Cavendish takes first post-Tour victory in Germany

Mark Cavendish wins Sparkasse Giro 2009

Mark Cavendish won six stages of the Tour this year, but he’s still hungry for victories, as he proved by winning the Sparkasse one-day classic on Sunday.

Cavendish’s latest victory came in the twelfth editiion of the 177 kilometre, category 1.1 race held in west Germany. Second was former Columbia-HTC team-mate Gerald Ciolek of Milram and third another German rider, Andreas Stauff (Kuota). Tour stage winner Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo) finished fourth.

The Columbia-HTC pro’s latest victory took place on a tough urban circuit in heavy rain just a week after he scooped his sixth Tour stage of 2009 on the Champs Elysées.

"It's an impressive result for Mark," said Columbia-HTC manager Rolf Aldag.

"He had a tough Tour de France and he's been winning all season, but the victories just keep coming. And this was not an easy race at all. It was held on a tough little circuit, with two short but hard climbs and then a fast descent to the finish, and on top of that it was raining most of the day.

"A break of five guys got away but in the last lap and a half we managed to bring things back together for Cavendish. He seems to be totally unbeatable in the sprints right now."

Cavendish has now taken 20 wins this season. He will now go on to race two or three more critieriums before taking part in the Tour of Ireland.

Other Britons taking part in the Sparkasse race included Matt Brammier (An Post-Sean Kelly) and Daniel Lloyd (Cervelo).

Results

Sparkassen Giro 2009, 180km

1. Mark Cavendish (GB) Columbia-HTC in 4-16-30

2. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Milram

3. Andreas Stauff (Ger) FC Rheinland-Pfalz-Saar Mainz

4. Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervelo

5. Robert Wagner (Ger) Skil-Shimano

6. Eric Baumann (Ger) Nutrixxion Sparkasse

7. Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Skil-Shimano

8. Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Jong Vlaanderen-Bauknecht

9. Roy Curvers (Ned) Skil-Shimano

10. Pieter Van Speybroeck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen all same time.

2009: Cavendish's wins so far...

Mark Cavendish has so far notched up 20 professional wins this year, here's how they look:

Tour de France; stage two

Tour de France; stage three

Tour de France; stage 10

Tour de France, stage 11

Tour de France; stage 19

Tour de France; stage 21

Sparkasse Giro

Giro d'Italia; stage one (TTT)

Giro d'Italia; stage nine

Giro d'Italia; stage 11

Giro d'Italia; stage 13

Tour of Switzerland; stage three

Tour of Switzerland; stage six

Tour of Romandie; stage three (TTT)

Tirreno-Adriatico; stage seven

Three Days of De Panne; stage two

Three Days of De Panne; stage three (a)

Three Days of De Panne; points classification

Tour of California; stage five

Tour of California; stage four

Tour of California; sprint classification

Tour of Qatar; stage four

Tour of Qatar; stage six

Milan-San Remo

 

 

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