Mark Cavendish in pink outraged over the controversy: Cycling News
Mark Cavendish was outraged at the end of the first-mass sprint of this year's Giro d'Italia. Alessandro Petacchi won the 244 kilo-metre race which stretched from Alba to Parma.
HTC-Highroa's Mark Cavendish was furious at the end of the race and showed his frustration to Alessandro Petacchi, who deviated from his line three times, which disrupted his ride.
“In the past, every time I move one centimetre off my line, I am disqualified,” a visibly upset Cavendish said. I feel hard-done by. Had it been me and not Petacchi I would have been disqualified. I put the blame squarely with the commissaires and the race
jury. It's the price you pay for success, whether it's other riders, other teams, the jury or race officials, it's how it is. It's what I gotta deal with. It's the price of being successful.”.
He even said that if he was the one causing disturbance by deviating from his line he should have been disqualified immediately. He clarified that he had been disqualified from the race in past because of this very reason. He further rationalised that the
divergence may be a tactic in sprinting and as Alessandro Petacchi is more experienced and a great champion known more for his unwise tactics and traits, which lead to the winning of the race, is wrong in sprinting and should be taken under account.
He then directed his focus and rage to the race commissaries, explaining the fact that they are more to be held responsible. He explained that the cyclists do involve themselves in such unethical practices, but it is the sole duty of the Giro commissaries
to see that the races are played fairly.
He clarified further that he is not blurting out the rage of losing the race, but the fact that he felt bad and frantic of what happened during the race in the final 100 metres.
He analysed the situation and said that it is wrong to hold Alessandro Petacchi responsible. It is the Giro commissaries who are to be held accountable of any such thing occurring during the races.
He supplemented the aftermath of the race by apologising the jury and to Alessandro Petacchi, if he caused any problems.
On the flip-side, Alessandro Petacchi disagreed with the whole discussion of Mark Cavendish saying that he did not do anything wrong in the race. He further added that he did move a bit, but did not intend to do so in a wrong way. However, he too apologised.
Mark Cavendish was happy for his Maglia Rosa saying that it is worth it after the tough race. He dedicated it to his team HTC-Highroad.
He will be defending his green jersey at 2011 Vuelta a Espana which will start in August.
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