HTC Highroad directeur sportif Valerio Piva was a satisfied man at the finish of stage ten of the Giro d’Italia. The team had just picked up its second stage win of this year’s race thanks to Mark Cavendish’s speed into Teramo, and also has Kanstantsin Sivstov sitting second overall in the general classification.
“It worked out perfectly for the sprints. We came to the race and from the beginning we didn’t have help from the other teams. We have tried from the beginning of this Giro, and today it was perfect. Mark won and I am happy,” he told VeloNation.
Cavendish went close on stage two but was just held off by Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre ISD). He protested against Petacchi’s sprint afterwards, but the decision stood. Was the chance to prove a point part of what drove him today?
“Of course…every stage with a chance of a sprint, he was motivated,” Piva responded. “Today was the second-last stage for sprinters and so he was super-motivated, as was the team. We could see the sprint…it was perfect. He was this time on the wheel of Petacchi and there was no chance…it was perfect.”
Piva confirmed that Cavendish will leave the race in two day’s time, heading home in order to save some energy for the Tour de France.
“He goes home after the 12th..it was planned,” he said. “He has one more stage in the next two days, to Ravenna. That is the last chance he has to win a second stage. But his objective was to win one stage in this Giro. Now we have one, we will see. Normally there is one left, then the Giro finishes for Cav.”
He believes that things are looking good for the Tour de France. “He is in good shape. He will take it a little bit easy for one week, then back for the preparation for the Tour with Switzerland, then the Tour itself.”