Mechanical problem wrecks Cavendish's Tirreno chances

Mark Cavendish Tour of Caifornia stage three

Mark Cavendish (Columbia) finished the opening stage of Tirreno-Adriatico seven minutes behind winner Julien El Fares (Cofidis) after a mechanical problem at the start of the final climb left him standing in the road waiting for the Columbia team car.

?I thought my chain had come off and Fabian Cancellara gave me a little push but then I couldn?t get going,? Cavendish told Cycling Weekly at the finish of the stage with his fingers covered in oil after trying to resolve the problem himself.

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