Mark Cavendish (Columbia) finished the Giro d'Italia stage to San Martino di Castrozza on Tuesday comfortably in the large gruppetto with the other sprinters.
He quickly recovered from his effort. He was still disappointed about failing to win a sprint in the pink jersey and about the finale of Monday?s stage but he is already looking ahead to getting revenge later in the week.
?I was ok. I was just getting through. The important thing is that we got the jersey back,? he said as he enjoyed a well-deserved drink and got dressed to protect himself from the cold.
?I was disappointed to lose the jersey for a bit but things have gone in our favour today and we got it back. Last year I was struggling to make the gruppetto. Now I?m not??
?I?m thinking about Milan but there?s also the stage to Chiavenna when we drop back into Italy from Switzerland.?
ZABEL: ?HE?S LEARNING ALL THE TIME?
Team Columbia?s special sprint consultant Erik Zabel revealed that he had talked to Cavendish after the disappointment of stage three to Valdobbiadene. It is revealing inside view of their close relationship.
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?After the finish I let Mark rest up on the bus and then we did the transfer together. He cooled down pretty quickly and got over the disappointment,? Zabel told Cycling Weekly.
?He knows things like that can happen all the time and that he was probably a little bit too far behind in that moment.?
?He?s learning all the time and at this Giro he?s learnt what it?s like to wear an important leader?s jersey. There?s a lot of extra pressure responsibility and things to do. Sprinters usually like to hide in the peloton, chilling out but in the Rosa jersey you can?t do that. It was another lesson he learnt yesterday.?
Zabel waited at the finish for Cavendish and helped him put on some warm clothes and gave him a supportive pat on the back.
?Despite what?s happened, it?s been a great start to the Giro for Mark. He reached so many goals. It?s very stimulating for me to work with him. The days are long but it?s a like taking a paid vacation with friends, so it?s nice.?
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Giro d'Italia 2009 links
Stage reports
Stage four: Di Luca denies Soler on the line; Lovkvist takes pink jersey
Stage three: Cavendish loses pink jersey after being caught behind late crash
Stage two: Petacchi denies Cavendish the stage win
Stage one: Cavendish in pink as Columbia prove their point to Garmin
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