Cav claims Milan-San Remo

Cavendish: Classic ride

I took a lot of pleasure by winning it when a lot of people had written me off.

Mark Cavendish
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Mark Cavendish produced a superb sprint finish to claim victory in the 298-kilometre Milan-San Remo Classic.

The Isle of Man rider pipped Heinrich Haussler at the line to land the first of this season's classics.

Cavendish began to look a potential winner once a breakaway group had been reeled in.

The 23-year-old, who won four Tour de France stages last July, was led into the final straight by Team Columbia-Highroad team-mate George Hincapie and was 10 metres adrift of Haussler (Cervelo TestTeam).

When Haussler turned on the speed in the closing quarter mile he became the clear favourite.

The Australia-born German established a big lead which eliminated the challenge of most riders, but Cavendish persisted and clawed back the deficit before edging ahead and sneaking in front just before the line.

Norwegian Thor Hushovd took third place, with American veteran Lance Armstrong, building up his fitness for the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, never in the frame for victory.

Cavendish is just the second British rider to win cycling's premier one-day race after 1964 champion Tom Simpson. He has been included in the Great Britain squad for the World Track Championships which begin in Poland on Wednesday.

Answered critics

"I have just won a Monument (a one-day classic). It is my first Monument I have ever ridden," Cavendish said.

"I took a lot of pleasure by winning it when a lot of people had written me off."

Cavendish paid tribute to Team Columbia-Highroad sprint consultant Erik Zabel, a four-time Milan-San Remo winner and winner of the Tour de France's green points jersey on six occasions.

"Without his help I wouldn't have won," he admitted.

"We did the reconnaissance twice and I knew exactly where I had to be at what time and knew exactly how hard I could go and when.

"It was the knowledge that he gave me that got me through the bike race."