Cycling: Mark Cavendish wins in Qatar

Published on 06/02/2013 01:24

Briton Mark Cavendish claimed his second win for Omega Pharma-QuickStep on stage three of the Tour of Qatar.

BRITON Mark Cavendish claimed his second win for Omega Pharma-QuickStep on stage three of the Tour of Qatar.

The 27-year-old from the Isle of Man, who joined Omega Pharma-QuickStep following one year at Team Sky, opened his account for the Belgian squad in the Tour de San Luis and added another victory on the 143-kilometre route from Al Wakra to Mesaieed. A ten-second time bonus accompanied the win and moved Cavendish to fourth overall, eight seconds behind American Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing), who retained the lead.

Cavendish wrote on Twitter: “Nice to get the win here today in #TourOfQatar! @opqscyclingteam just chaperoned me the whole day. Machines! BIG machines! Thanks guys.”

The Manxman added: “I felt really strong, so I have to thank my team. They really kept me protected, kept me out of
trouble the whole time and gave me energy for the sprint. I really had to kick at 350 metres, I was so far back.”

On the prospect of taking overall victory on Friday’s final day, he added: “I think it’s best to come here, focus on the stage wins, and hope the GC (general classification) can come from that.”

Two of Bookwalter’s team-mates – American Taylor Phinney and Briton Adam Blythe – remained second and third overall.