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Mash-tastic... :D
Brussels, 21.39, 4th July 2010. ZWRP SportsWire
Britain's Mark Cavendish slammed Tour organisers after a dramatic crash in the final kilometres of Sunday's first stage of the Tour de France left the HTC Columbia rider with zero points in the battle for the Green Jersey.
Video replays showed Cavendish appearing to head straight on as the peloton made a sharp right turn in the final few km of the 223.5km stage into Brussels, but the defiant Manx Flyer was having none of it.
"It's incredible! It's just like 2009 all over again! " ranted the 25 year old Manxman. "I was in a good position, and was holding my line perfectly straight. Then suddenly, out of nowhere Oscar Freire and a number of other riders started to come across me as if they wanted to turn right. I just got my head down and kept on my line, and then the next thing I know I'm on the floor with Freire shouting at me. It's a complete nightmare!"
Thor Hushovd, Cavendish's main rival for the Green "Sprinter's" Jersey, finished third to claim 26 points and an early advantage in the race for Green. Cavendish however, was not impressed:
"You can call it bike racing if you want, but in my book just staying out of trouble, getting round the corners, and racing near the front to make sure that you finish in the points is really just a form of cheating. That's typical behaviour from Hushovd."
The Norwegian claimed the Green Jersey in 2009 after Cavendish was disqualified in a sprint finish on Stage 14 in a decision that the Manx Flyer hotly disputed, and that he believes was part of a conspiracy against him by the race organisers that has continued into this year's race.
"The powers that be have clearly decided that once again they will do whatever it takes to stop me winning the green jersey, and that includes putting surprise corners in the route. In a situation like this, they should be looking to disqualify all the riders that came off their line to turn right."
Despite this early setback, Cavendish, who remains favourite for the Green Jersey, was not overly concerned:
"I'm still the greatest cyclist of the modern era. Everyone knows that. Anyone who doesn't, clearly knows nothing about cycling."
Brussels, 21.39, 4th July 2010. ZWRP SportsWire
Britain's Mark Cavendish slammed Tour organisers after a dramatic crash in the final kilometres of Sunday's first stage of the Tour de France left the HTC Columbia rider with zero points in the battle for the Green Jersey.
Video replays showed Cavendish appearing to head straight on as the peloton made a sharp right turn in the final few km of the 223.5km stage into Brussels, but the defiant Manx Flyer was having none of it.
"It's incredible! It's just like 2009 all over again! " ranted the 25 year old Manxman. "I was in a good position, and was holding my line perfectly straight. Then suddenly, out of nowhere Oscar Freire and a number of other riders started to come across me as if they wanted to turn right. I just got my head down and kept on my line, and then the next thing I know I'm on the floor with Freire shouting at me. It's a complete nightmare!"
Thor Hushovd, Cavendish's main rival for the Green "Sprinter's" Jersey, finished third to claim 26 points and an early advantage in the race for Green. Cavendish however, was not impressed:
"You can call it bike racing if you want, but in my book just staying out of trouble, getting round the corners, and racing near the front to make sure that you finish in the points is really just a form of cheating. That's typical behaviour from Hushovd."
The Norwegian claimed the Green Jersey in 2009 after Cavendish was disqualified in a sprint finish on Stage 14 in a decision that the Manx Flyer hotly disputed, and that he believes was part of a conspiracy against him by the race organisers that has continued into this year's race.
"The powers that be have clearly decided that once again they will do whatever it takes to stop me winning the green jersey, and that includes putting surprise corners in the route. In a situation like this, they should be looking to disqualify all the riders that came off their line to turn right."
Despite this early setback, Cavendish, who remains favourite for the Green Jersey, was not overly concerned:
"I'm still the greatest cyclist of the modern era. Everyone knows that. Anyone who doesn't, clearly knows nothing about cycling."
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"I was in a good position, and was holding my line perfectly straight. Then suddenly, out of nowhere Oscar Freire and a number of other riders started to come across me as if they wanted to turn right.
As there was a 90 degreee right hand turn going straight on wasnt the best option Cav.
As there was a 90 degreee right hand turn going straight on wasnt the best option Cav.
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