Tour of Britain: Mark Cavendish says sprint opportunities may be limited
Sunday 6 September 2015 17:32, UK
Mark Cavendish says it is not guaranteed that he will get the opportunity to challenge for sprint wins at the Aviva Tour of Britain, which starts on Sunday.
The eight-day race contains six flat finishes, but only two of those look certain to end in bunch sprints due to the hilly terrain over which the stages take place.
The chance of bunch sprints is also diminished by the fact that teams are only six riders strong, which makes it difficult for them to catch breakaways.
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ on the eve of the race, Etixx - Quick-Step rider Cavendish said: "What flat stages? We've got two at the end of the Tour, but even then I don't know with six-man teams on these distances and these heavy roads.
"We tried to control it last year and exploded at the end. I don't think we're going to try to do that again this year. There might be other teams wanting to do it, but it's very difficult with long stages, six-man teams, day after day with the hills the way they are.
"I think there will be a break go to the end most days. It will be nice racing and it's always nice to see the crowds out here in Great Britain and I will just enjoy that more than anything."
Even on the more certain sprint days, Cavendish is not guaranteed to be Etixx - Quick-Step's protected rider, as up-and-coming Colombian Fernando Gaviria is also in the team.
The 21-year-old beat Cavendish twice in the Tour de San Luis in Argentina in January and also performed well at last month's RideLondon-Surrey Classic.
Cavendish added: "We have got a strong team here. Obviously I sprint normally, but Fernando Gaviria is here and he beat me twice at the start of the year. He is pretty handy and he is going well. He can climb good as well, so maybe we will go for him on a couple of days."
Cavendish admitted his main priority at the Tour of Britain is fine-tuning his form for the world championship road race in Richmond, United States, on September 27.
He added: "Etixx - Quick-Step have got a good group of guys here. Most of us are preparing for the world championships, so we will just take it as it comes."
