Mark Cavendish continued his strong start to the 2015 season, winning the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne semi-classic race in Belgium on Sunday.
Cavendish’s victory made amends for Saturday’s result for his Etixx-QuickStep team in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, which saw three of the team’s riders overhauled by Brit Ian Stannard in the race’s finale.
It was Cavendish’s sixth win of the year so far, and saw him easily sprint ahead of rival Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) to take the honours. It will serve as a huge morale boost for the Manxman, as Kristoff has been touted as one of the leading favourites for Milan-San Remo later this month.
Cavendish said after the victory: “I’m happy to beat Kristoff, one of the best riders in the world right now. I’m happy to win in the first showing against him this year.”
The way Cavendish took on the climbs of KBK will have his Milan-San Remo rivals worried.
Mark Cavendish restores Etixx-QuickStep’s pride with Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne win
After losing out in Saturday's Het Nieuwsblad, there were no mistakes for Etixx-QuickStep in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
The peloton passes through Kortrijk in the 2015 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
Ian Stannard chases in the 2015 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
Bernhard Eisel and Elia Viviani – Viviani would finish third
Zdenek Stybar leads an escape
Tom Boonen heads the break
The peloton in the 2015 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
Pim Ligthart climbs on the cobbles
The peloton in the 2015 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
Ian Stannard shows that he’s just that bit harder than everyone else. And he’s smiling
Philippe Gilbert’s put in a huge effort to attack late in the race, but was caught
Mark Cavendish wins the 2015 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
Mark Cavendish celebrates with his team
Mark Cavendish with the winner’s cuddly donkey
