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.
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