British Cycling?s Performance Director Dave Brailsford watched Mark Cavendish win his first ever Tour de France sprint with the Great Britain team mechanics at the Manchester velodrome.
Brailsford has played a vital role in helping Cavendish become the fastest sprint in the world and was rightly proud of his success.
?I was watching the stage with the GB mechanics in their room. They aren?t the fittest bunch around but they jumped pretty high when Mark won,? Brailsford happily told Cycling Weekly.
?I?m thrilled. It?s one of those great moments. I was very, very confident that Mark would win a stage this year but sport being sport you never know until its happens.?
?It was probably the purest sprint that I?ve seen him do. He took it on a long way out and quite simply demonstrated in the best way possible that he is best sprinter in the world.?
Brailsford said that Cavendish?s victory was a huge boost for everybody?s moral in the Great Britain team for Beijing.
?It?s fantastic for all the people involved with British Cycling and for all the riders out training in Majorca, I know they were watching. Mark?s win boosts everybody?s moral for the Olympics. It was a super, super day for him and for British Cycling.?
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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: STAGE REPORTS
Stage five: Cavendish takes first Tour win
Stage four: Schumacher wins TT and takes race lead
Stage three: Dumoulin wins stage from break
Stage two: Hushovd wins chaotic sprint
Stage one: Valverde wins
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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: NEWS
Cavendish talks about his Tour stage win
Tour comment: Why Evans should be happy [stage four]
Millar: Still aiming for Tour yellow jersey [stage 4]
Who is Romain Feillu?
Cavendish disappointed with stage two result
Millar too close to Tour yellow jersey
Stage 2 preview: A sprint finish for Cavendish?
Millar happy after gains precious seconds in Plumelec
Valverde delighted with opening Tour stage win
Comment: Is Valverde's win a good thing for the Tour?
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