Tirreno-Adriatico: Mark Cavendish involved in crash as Jens Debusschere wins stage one
Manxman falls out of contention after clipping Elia Viviani's wheel
Thursday 12 March 2015 18:07, UK
Mark Cavendish saw his chances of winning stage one of Tirreno-Adriatico scuppered by a late crash as Belgium’s Jens Debusschere sprinted to victory and Adriano Malori retained the race lead.
Cavendish (Etixx - Quick-Step) looked perfectly placed to claim his seventh win of the season with 300m to go but his chain came off as he launched his sprint, forcing him to the right and across the path of Elia Viviani (Team Sky), whose wheel he unavoidably clipped.
Viviani fell heavily and brought down several other riders, and although Cavendish stayed upright, the collision freed his foot from his pedal and he could only coast to the line.
Viviani remained on the ground for several minutes but was eventually able to remount his bike and finish the stage. Subsequent X-rays showed he had suffered no breaks.
Cavendish tweeted afterwards: "Gutted my chain came off today as I launched my sprint. Even more for @eliaviviani, as the momentum from loss of torque moved me across him."
Debusschere (Lotto Soudal) was at the head of the field when the collision happened and never looked like losing once the likes of Cavendish were eliminated from contention. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) finished second ahead of Ireland’s Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18) in third.
Malori (Movistar) crossed the line in the main bunch to remain top of the general classification, but he is now on the same time as Sagan, who climbs to second place after collecting six bonus seconds. Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) is one second behind the pair in third.
The race continues on Friday with a 203km second stage from Cascina to Arezzo.
Stage one result
1 Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Soudal, 3:30:18
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo, same time
3 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18, st
4 Alexander Porsev (Rus) Katusha, st
5 Tyler Farrar (USA) MTN-Qhubeka, st
6 Magnus Cort (Den) Orica-GreenEdge, st
7 Roger Kluge (Ger) IAM Cycling, st
8 Nicola Ruffoni (Ita) Bardiani-CSF, st
9 Zak Dempster (Aus) Bora-Argon 18, st
10 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Etixx – Quick-Step, st
General classification
1 Adriano Malori (Ita) Movistar, 6:04
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo, same time
3 Fabian Cancellara (Sui) Trek Factory Racing, +1sec
4 Greg van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing, +2
5 Matthias Brandle (Aut) IAM Cycling, st
6 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
7 Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing, +4
8 Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltn) Cannondale-Garmin, +5
9 Steve Cummings (GB) MTN-Qhubeka, +6
10 Martijn Keizer (Ned) Lotto-NL-Jumbo, +7
