Mark Cavendish has said he was delighted to win stage 3 of the Giro d'Italia today, especially it was the first time this year he has had a full strength support team, unlike his team mate Fabio Jakobsen.
The comments, made after his latest win today, will only serve to stoke speculation his QuickStep Alpha Vinyl team will bring two sprinters to the Tour de France this year; himself and Jakobsen.
Cavendish said in recent days journalists who wrote about which one of them would go to the Tour were writing "lazy" stories and risked causing a rift between him and the Dutch rider. However, he put those concerns aside today to point out Jakobsen had gotten more favourable treatment so far this year.
“I’m old, but I’m still me,” Cavendish said to the Italian broadcast media after his victory into Balatonfüred today; hitting the front very early but somehow having the speed and, crucially, the endurance to hold off Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) and Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates).
Advertisement
Related News
He explained that after starting the sprint with 300 metres to go - off a brilliant lead-out from the team, especially Michael Mørkøv - he was concerned those closest to him were coming back before the line. In truth, those concerns were without foundation as the Manxman proved untouchable.
“When you have guys like this, it leaves me full of confidence because I know it’s on me. I’ve got the best group of guys around me. I know I’ve not got any excuses,” he added of the team. "I haven’t had a full team this year yet like Fabio, so it’s nice to get it here for the Giro.”
However, while able to win in the manner he did today - just ahead of his 37th birthday and in the second coming of his career after years in the wilderness - he believed many of the sprinters on the Giro were the best at different aspects of sprinting.
“I think there’s a few guys, but whether they’re strongest and fastest, that doesn’t necessarily mean the best. I haven’t ever been the strongest or fastest, but I’ve managed to win bike races,” Cavendish said.
“I think Caleb is the one with the fastest leg speed, I think Fabio is the strongest but that doesn’t necessarily mean you win bike races, you know. Sprinting is like chess on wheels. You’ve got to know how to beat the strongest in the world.”
