Mark Cavendish insists he is ‘over the moon’ at fellow sprinter Fernando Gaviria joining him at Etixx – Quick-Step.
The Manxman took to Twitter to debunk rumours that he was disgruntled with the Colombian’s arrival, with many speculating that Etixx could be planning for life without Cavendish.
“I'm over the moon that @Etixx_QuickStep has signed @77Gaviria. Welcome dude!” Cavendish typed.
Gaviria, who won omnium gold at last week’s UCI Track World Championships, beat Cavendish twice at the season-opening Tour de San Luis.
After those wins, interest from the WorldTour in the 20-year-old was rife, with rumours of him signing for AG2R-La Mondiale soon quashed.
Etixx – Quick-Step invited Gaviria and countryman Rodrigo Contreras, who won the youth category at San Luis, for tests in Belgium earlier this week and announced yesterday they had signed them both.
With Gaviria keen to fight for omnium gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Etixx team boss Patrick Lefevere said his schedule will be focussed around that goal, but the sprinter could ride as a stagiaire towards the end of this season.
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Mark Cavendish confident of strong Giro d'Italia but attempts to manage expectations: 'People seem to forget I had a punctured lung at the end of November'The Manxman seemed motivated in the press conference as he returns to the Italian Grand Tour after a nine-year hiatus
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Mark Cavendish frustrated on final Tour of Oman stage as Jan Hirt wins overall
Sprinter boxed out on stage six finish, as Fernando Gaviria triumphs
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Mark Cavendish loses green jersey and fined at Tour of Oman ahead of stage six
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl penalised by race jury for being pushed back to peloton by car
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Mark Cavendish crashes 'quite heavily' on stage five of Tour of Oman
Jan Hirt takes stage win and race lead atop Green Mountain on the penultimate day
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Mark Cavendish raring to get 2022 campaign underway at Tour of Oman: 'It doesn't matter how you're going until you compare yourself with the other people'
Cavendish starts his 2022 campaign at the the Tour of Oman on Thursday
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Mark Cavendish set to return from Ghent Six crash with season debut at Tour of Oman
Cavendish has recovered from the two broken ribs and punctured lung he suffered at the end of November to lead Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl in Oman
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Police search for two men in connection to Mark Cavendish aggravated burglary case
Police have asked people to come forward if they know their whereabouts
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Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl release 2022 kit from new partners Castelli
The Italian clothing brand will make the Belgian team's kit until at least 2024
