Mark Cavendish abandons the Tirreno-Adriatico 2012
Mark Cavendish is yet another entry in the list of top profile cyclists walking out of the Tirreno-Adriatico 2012.
The Italian race has entered its penultimate stage 7 and Philippe Gilbert, Matt Goss and Edvald Boasson Hagen have already departed from the event.
Cavendish confirmed the news on his twitter page and posted, "Well that's my Tirreno-Adriatico done and dusted, haven’t finished today's stage, but good sensations. Now to rest up for Milan-San Remo".
The UCI World Road Champion has revealed that Milan-San Remo is the biggest goal of his 2012 season.
He has opted out of the Italian race to ensure his best form ahead of the first Classics race of the race.
The annual race between Milan and Sanremo is one of the longest professional one-day events of the year.
The cyclists had to cover a total distance of 298 kilometres across Italy to claim the overall position at the race.
Mark succeeded during the 2009 version and is optimistic to secure the biggest victory of his season yet.
His first win of the season came during the 3rd stage of the Tour of Qatar and he also claimed the stage 5 of the race.
Cavendish finished the race at the 6th overall position, despite a disastrous crash during the final stage.
He also dominated the Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne and filled his pockets with the 65th edition of the Belgian race scheduled on February 26, 2012.
Philippe Gilbert is yet another cyclist who had to withdraw from the race after the stage 6 because of high fever.
Team BMC cyclist wanted to start the final stage of the race but the team has announced to save him for the Milan-San Remo.
It was disclosed, "Gilbert has 38.2°C fever, the fever came up yesterday about one hour after the stage finish. He wanted to race, but we didn't want to take any risks".
'On Saturday, there is Milan-San Remo and that race is of course much more important," the team’s spokesman told Het Nieuwsblad.
Christopher Horner of Team RadioShack-Nissan is leading the stage 6 classifications and is best placed to take the overall position at the Italian race.
Roman Kreuziger of Team Astana is five seconds behind at the second spot, while Vincenzo Nibali further one second behind at the third position.
Horner is now eyeing the 9.3 kilometre stage 7 of the race to ride the top podium spot at the third World Tour event of the season.
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