Mark Cavendish wins the second stage of the Giro d’ Italia 2012
Reigning UCI Road World Champion Mark Cavendish proved his dominance during the first Grand Tour race of the season, the Giro d’ Italia.
He rode brilliantly during the 206 kilometre event and occupied the top podium spot.
Mark finished the race in a fastest time of 4 hours, 53 minutes and 12 seconds and overcame Matthew Harley Goss of Team Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team.
Goss finished at the second position while Geoffrey Soupe of Team FDJ-Big Mat, Tyler Farrar of Team Garmin-Barracuda and Roberto Ferrari of Team Androni-Giocattoli achieved the next four spots.
Mark was delighted after the victory and thanked his team-mates for their endless support throughout the race.
He noted that Ian Stannard was the biggest help who, “did 150 kilometres alone reeling in the break – he did incredible”.
“Everybody handled it well and we stayed together as a team. I was really looked after at the finish and kept sheltered”, Cavendish added.
“Geraint took me perfect and went exactly when he was supposed to. I was able to come off him and win the stage so I'm very, very happy", he concluded.
Stage 1 winner, Taylor Phinney finished at the 51st position and continued his overall dominance at the race.
The cyclist crashed in the final 8 kilometres of the race and dropped his chain which cost him a minimum of 30 seconds.
"I just found myself on the ground, having touched wheels and lost balance”.
“Then I couldn't get my chain back on. I was quite scared there for a second that I was going to lose the jersey", Phinney concluded.
Geraint Thomas of Team Sky remains at the second overall position with Alex Rasmussen of Team Garmin-Barracuda sustaining his third spot.
Manuele Boaro of Team Saxo Bank, Gustav Larsson of Team Vacansoleil-DCM and Ramunas Navardauskas of Team Garmin-Barracuda occupied the fourth, the fifth and the sixth positions in the respective order.
Mark is holding the 12th overall spot after the stage 2 classifications and is currently leading the point’s classifications with a total number of 28 UCI points to his credit.
Geraint Thomas is holding the second position with Taylor Phinney, Matthew Harley Goss and Alex Rasmussen occupying the fourth and the fifth positions respectively.
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