Cavendish: 'Today brought back memories of San Remo'

Mark Cavendish Giro 2009 stage 11

Mark Cavendish had not marked down stage 11 to Arenzano as one of the three he was targeting this year but when the gruppo controlled the breaks and Cavendish comfortably got over the Turchino climb, he and his Columbia team automatically slipped into sprint formation and took home yet another win.

The sprint was scrappy behind Cavendish but he was kept out of trouble and got a perfect lead out from Edvald Boasson Hagen and Mark Renshaw.

Just two months ago Cavendish dived down the Turchino and went on to win Milan-San Remo. The stage to Arenzano brought back all the emotions of that day and inspired Cavendish.

?Going through the tunnel at the top of the Turchino was quite special. It was where Milan-San Remo really started and it brought back some nice, happy memories,? Cavendish said after his win.

?I was a bit worried that I would suffer on the Turchino and thought it was going take the sting out of my legs but it?s unbelievable when you can smell the finish and how deeper you can go,? Cavendish said in the winner?s press conference.

?I was put in good position to have some sliding room but didn?t need it. To be honest I seemed to be floating up there. It was perfect.?

?It?s a nice descent and so I was more relaxed because I was near the front and then the team placed me in perfect position. I didn?t want a repeat of the first stage and so hit out early. When it kicked up I said ?oh-ho? but I managed to keep going and win. I seem to be in better form that I thought I was??

Petacchi out of the picture

Alessandro Petacchi was blocked by the fight to get on Cavendish?s wheel but Cavendish didn?t even know it, thanks to Renshaw?s lead out. Irritated by a question that he considered irrelevant, he said: ?It happened behind me so I can?t answer about what happened. I just don?t know. I don?t know.?

?I?m lucky that I can trust Mark Renshaw and follow every move. Edvald was also there before that. He?s learnt how to move round the peloton and I?m lucky that he can guide me.?

?I suppose it was a bit sketchy at the end. Some guys are professional and let you through a gap but then there are others who don?t. They?re dangerous in the last two kilometres because they don?t have the energy to keep going and become like bollards in the road. I?m lucky that I?ve got the best guys to look after me and put me in the best position.?

Lucky 13 for Cavendish

Friday?s 13th stage to Florence is Cavendish?s next big objective and perhaps his last stage of this year?s Giro. He admitted he is starting to feel the effects of the long stages and hilly racing but would love to win again; close to his second him in Italy.

?I targeted three stages in the Giro (Trieste, Milan and Florence). I wanted to win today but it wasn?t one of the three. Friday is because it?s close to my Italian home and there?s going to be a big contingent from Quarrata. There?s going to be a lot of people coming and I?d love to win on front of them all.?

?I?m going to carry on as long as I can. I?m starting to feel how hard it is and I was still tired today. I don?t like stopping but we?ll see what happens and take every day as it comes.?

Cavendish will spend his 24th birthday tomorrow riding the 60.6km time trial through the Cinque Terre but if he can win in Florence the day after, it would be a much better birthday present.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Giro d'Italia 2009 links

Stage reports

Stage 11: Cavendish romps to second Giro stage win

Stage 10: Di Luca lays down the gauntlet

Giro rest day review (May 18)

Stage nine: Cavendish blitzes rivals to win in Milan

Stage eight: Siutsou makes it two in a row for Columbia-Highroad

Stage seven: Boasson Hagen takes treacherous stage

Stage six: Scarponi wins longest stage with big break

Stage five: Menchov wins mountain battle as Di Luca grabs the pink jersey

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

Photo galleries

Stage 10 photo gallery

Stage nine photo gallery

Stage eight photo gallery

Stage seven photo gallery

Stage six photo gallery

Stage five photo gallery

Stage four photo gallery

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one photo gallery

Desktop wallpaper photos

News

Is Di Luca trying too hard, too soon?

Wiggins loses time in the Giro (stage 10)

Armstrong and Basso say sorry for Giro protest

How are the Giro favourites doing?

Cavendish says 'I'm addicted to winning'

Riders stage go-slow protest during Giro stage in Milan

Cavendish cool before Milan sprint

No sympathy for Armstrong from Giro boss

Boasson Hagen celebrates his birthday early

Cavendish overjoyed for Boasson Hagen

Armstrong 'livid' at dangerous Giro stage

Astana riders wear faded kit in protest over unpaid wages

Armstrong sees Leipheimer in pink

Giro news round-up: 14 May

Wiggins: 'I can't keep smashing away on the climbs'

Wiggins eyes top 20 finish overall

Armstrong after Giro stage 5: 'That was hard'

Cavendish looking for Giro revenge

Armstrong happy with stage four performance

Lovkvist will fight to keep Giro lead

Giro could be last race for Armstrong's team

Vande Velde crashes out of Giro

Petacchi claims he didn't know of Cavendish crash

Cavendish struggles to find consolation in pink jersey

Petacchi: I've been working out how to beat Cav

I'm wearing pink on behalf of the team, says Cavendish

Wiggins ready to win Giro team time trial

Friday, May 8: Giro news round-up

Cavendish out to topple Garmin in Giro team time trial

Team time trial start times

Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia top ten prediction

Brits in Venice for Giro presentation

Armstrong overshadows overall favourites at Giro presentation

Armstrong confident of finding new sponsor for Astana

Armstrong working to save Astana team

Wiggins in top form for Giro

Garmin Slipstream kitted out for Giro opener

Dan Lloyd gets late Giro call-up

Armstrong's special Giro bikes unveiled

Daniel Lloyd overlooked for Giro ride

Cummings and Thomas not selected for Giro d'Italia

Cavendish tests Giro form at Tour of Romandie

David Millar confirms he's riding in 2009 Giro

Bennati to take on Cavendish in Giro 2009 sprints

2009 Giro d'Italia to start in Venice

Evans and Silence-Lotto disagree on Giro 2009 ride

Armstrong to ride 2009 Giro

Tuttosport reveals 2009 Giro d'Italia route

Dolce & Gabbana design new Giro jersey

2009 Giro d'Italia guide and features

Find the pink jersey competition

Giro d'Italia 2009: The Big Preview

British riders to have led the grand tours

CW's Giro top ten prediction

Brits in the Giro 2009

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish

CW Classic: the 1987 Giro d'Italia

2008 Giro d'Italia archive

Giro d'Italia 2008 coverage index - race reports, photos, results

From rule Britannia to cruel Britannia

Giro 2008: The final word on this year's race

Brits at the 2008 Giro: photo special

Five days to go, what's in store?

Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 27)

Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 19)

Giro d'Italia 2008 preview

Follow Cycling Weekly on Twitter>>

image

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.