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HTC-Columbia leads Cavendish to his first stage win in Vuelta

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News 2010

Published on Thursday, 09 September 2010 18:16

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Following an unbeatable lead-out by Matt Goss and the HTC-Columbia Vuelta squad, Mark Cavendish has claimed his first ever stage win in the Vuelta a España on Thursday. Already the race leader of the 2010 Vuelta for the first two stages, Cavendish powered out of the pack at the finish in Lleida to take his ninth victory on the 2010 season ahead of American Tyler Farrar and HTC-Columbia teammate Matt Goss. Cavendish's win is also his first since his victory on the Champs-Elysées in the Tour de France in late July.

Now Cavendish has taken victories in all three major stage races. "It's really special to win stages in all three major Tours, but there are always eight teammates who get me into a position where I can win." Cavendish said afterwards. "[Teammate] Lars Bak got in the break today, so we didn't have to work so hard. I wanted Matt [Goss] to get the win today because he made such a huge effort to get me into the right position. It didn't work out that way, but even so I'm really proud of what he did today. When I do succeed, it's on behalf of the team. We've a young squad here, and we're learning day-by-day and getting tighter and tighter in the finishes. It's going well."

Cavendish has now regained control of the points classification, which he leads with a nine point advantage. "I would like to try and win it outright, but my main objective is stage wins. Hopefully I'll get some more and the points jersey will work out as well."

HTC-Columbia men's team has secured 56 wins this season, including five stages of the Tour de France, two stages of the Giro d'Italia and two in the Vuelta a España.