Mark Cavendish (Columbia) won the final stage at Tirreno-Adriatico with an impressive long surge to the line in San Bendetto del Tronto.
Cavendish beat Tyler Farrar (Garmin) and Baden Cooke (Vacansoleil) after blasting past Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) in the final 200 metres.
Cavendish and Farrar finished several bike lengths clear, with the other sprinters well beaten after Columbia team mate George Hincapie lead out the sprint. Bennati tried to surpise Cavendish by going early but Cav moved across onto his wheel and then accelerated away. Farrar was hoping to come past again but Cavendish was unbeatable.
?The other day I was beaten on the line, so I had a point to prove today," Cavendish said on Italian television after his win.
"I wanted to prove I?m fastest. The team rode perfectly. They kept the break small and then I had the perfect lead out. Bennati went but I was able to get past him quite easily.?
Cavendish was asked about his chances in Saturday?s Milan-San Remo but played down his chances of making it over the climbs with the leaders in the final part of the 298km race.
?I?ve never done the distance before and it?s one of the monuments of the sport. I?m only 23 so I?ll probably be riding it more for experience this year,? he said.
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?I did both climbs in training and if I survive the Cipressa I should be okay on the Poggio but I have to get there first and the hardest thing will be to get over the Cipressa.?
SCARPONI WINS OVERALL
Italy?s Michele Scarponi (Diquigiovanni) won the overall classification at Tirreno-Adriatico after strong rides in the decisive time trial and mountain stage. Fellow Italian Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) was second at 25, with Andreas Kloden (Astana) third at 1-07.
It was Scarponi?s first stage race win since he served an 18-month ban for his involvement in the Spanish Operacion Puerto doping investigation.
Tirreno-Adriatico stage seven results 1. Mark Cavendish (GB) Columbia 169km in 4hrs 9mins 46secs
2. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin
3. Baden Cooke (Aus) Vacansoleil
4. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas
5. Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Française des Jeux
6. Angelo Furlan (Ita) Lampre
7. Aurélien Clerc (Swi) AG2R
8. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Katusha
9. Luca Paolini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone
10. Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step
11. Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Euskaltel
12. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) LPR Brakes
13. Davide Vigano (Ita) Fuji-Servetto all same time.
British
46. Roger Hammond (GB) Cervelo
50. Daniel Lloyd (GB) Cervelo
157. Charly Wegelius (GB) Silence-Lotto at 4min 27 secs
Final overall classification 1. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli in 27hrs 37 mins 22secs
2. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone at 25secs
3. Andreas Kloden (Ger) Astana at 1mins 7secs
4. Thomas Lovkvist (Swe) Columbia-Highroad at 1mins 10secs
5. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas at 1min 13secs
6. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli at 2mins 6secs
7. Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Milram at 2min 32secs
8. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Slipstream at 2mins 33secs
9. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Columbia-Highroad at 2min 41secs
10. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas at 2mins 54secs
British
63. Daniel Lloyd (GB) Cervelo at 36mins 43secs
113. Mark Cavendish (GB) Columbia-Highroad at 55mins 33secs
124. Roger Hammond (GB) Cervelo at 57mins 12secs
126. Charly Wegelius (GB) Silence-Lotto at 57mins 12secs.
Cavendish takes the 33rd pro win of his short career
Final podium: Michele Scarponi wins, with Stefano Garzelli second (left) and Andreas Kloden third (right)
TIRRENO-ADRIATICO 2009
Stage reports
Stage six: Italians ambush Kloden
Stage five: Kloden takes charge
Stage four: Rodrigueuz wins again on the Mur of Montelupone
Stage three: Farrar beats Cavendish in Tirreno sprint
Stage two: Petacchi wins Tirreno-Adriatico sprint
Stage one: Breakaway surprises the sprinters
Latest news/features
Thomas crashes out of Tirreno time trial
Mechanical problem wrecks Cavendish's Tirreno chances
Preview: Sprinters gather for Tirreno-Adriatico
2009 Tirreno-Adriatico route unveiled
2008: Cancellara wins Tirreno-Adriatico
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