News: Cavendish beaten in Argentina

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Britain’s Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma Quickstep) was beaten into second place on stage 2 of the Tour de San Luis. Scott Thwaites was 10th.

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With Cavendish in the leader’s jersey, his team Omega Pharma – Quick-Step worked all day at the front — again — to bring back a three rider break with 4km to go at the 171.4km Stage 2 of Tour de San Luis on Tuesday.

2013_Cavendish_Argentina

 

Photo: Silvia de Fenoglio (http://agenciasanluis.com/)

OPQS was hoping to set up Mark Cavendish for a possible second win in just two races this season, as the stage profile was once again one for the sprinters. However, Sacha Modolo (Bardiani CSF Inox) was able to beat Cavendish to the line on a slightly uphill finish, by less than a bike length. Leigh Howard (Orica GreenEDGE) was 3rd.

“I tried, but Modolo was just better today,” Cavendish said immediately after the stage. “We gave everything we had as a team. We were short some riders at the end, but the guys really did an incredible job for me today.”

OPQS looks next to be a stage for the climbers. The 173.1km Stage 3 of Tour de San Luis includes a Category 3 climb, and two Category 1 climbs with the last being a summit finish. The last 4.8km is a 6.7% average gradient.

The stage also saw a tenth place for British Circuit Race Champion Scott Thwaites. His director sportif  Jens Heppner says “We wanted the young sprinters to ride in the top 10 in this race. After we had started off well placed yesterday, Scott Thwaites reached 10th place–and one of our goals– with an enormous effort today. Michael Schwarzmann and Alexander Wetterhall rounded out a great day off with their results.”

“Today we consciously didn’t send any riders into the group. We speculated that the sprint would go our way. With many curves, narrow roads, and some wind, the conditions were not easy today. The guys rode very well. Scott, Michael, and Alex were in good form and sprinted right along with the first group over the finish line. My impression after the first two race days is that two teams have grown together, and the riders get along very well together. I am very pleased,” Heppner continued.

Stage 2
1. MODOLO Sacha BAR 03:50:08
2. CAVENDISH Mark OPQ 00:00:00
3. HOWARD Leigh OGE 00:00:00
4. DEBUSSCHERE Jens LTB 00:00:00
5. SAGAN Peter CAN 00:00:00
6. PETACCHI Alessandro LAM 00:00:00
7. CHICCHI Francesco VIN 00:00:00
8. BELLETTI Manuel ALM 00:00:00
9. LASCA Francesco CJR 00:00:00
10. THWAITES Scott TNE 00:00:00

42. HUSHOVD Thor BMC 00:00:00
64. MCEVOY Jonathan TNE 00:00:00

Overall
1. MODOLO Sacha BAR 07:38:12
2. CAVENDISH Mark OPQ 00:00:00
3. HOWARD Leigh OGE 00:00:00
4. PETACCHI Alessandro LAM 00:00:00
5. SAGAN Peter CAN 00:00:00

 

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