Mark Cavendish to lead Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step at the Tour de France 2013
Patrick Lefevere of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step has announced that the Belgian squad for the Tour de France 2013 will be built around Mark Cavendish.
Cavendish signed up with Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step after receiving lack of support from his former side, Team Sky at the Tour de France 2012.
The team was focused on claiming an overall victory at the French Grand Tour and the Manxman could not defend his green jersey.
The cyclist negotiated his way out of Team Sky and will now serve the Belgian side for a minimum period of three years.
Lefevere was delighted to have Mark on his side and noted that his team was always looking for a good sprinter since a long time and Cavendish is a complete package.
The 27-year-old had a splendid 2012 season and bagged several victories throughout the year including multiple stage victories at the Tour of Qatar, Tirreno-Adriatico, Giro d’Italia, Ster ZLM Toer, Tour de France, Danmark Rundt and the Tour of Britain 2012.
The 2011 UCI Road World Champion finished first at the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and secured the first overall win of his professional career at the Ster ZLM Toer 2012.
“I remember I went to the Giro in 2008 and he was very upset about an incident that occurred between him and Greipel,” Patrick cited.
“He let Greipel win and Greipel disagreed. Mark was very upset and I said to my sponsors, 'this is a guy with guts, we have to have him on the team'”.
“He was contracted for a few years, though, and last year we wanted him but with the whole Sky story it was hard”.
“At the Tour, even the blind could see that he wasn’t happy, and then Dave said he could leave the team,” he briefed to Cyclingnews.
Cavendish will be given strong support by the Belgian team at the most prestigious cycling race of the season, the Tour de France.
An overall victory at the Ster ZLM Toer has definitely boosted his confidence and only time will tell if Mark manages to do justice with his talent and help Lefevere with an exceptional performance at the 2013 version of the French Grand Tour.
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