Monday 11 May 2015 16:58, UK
Mark Cavendish recorded his 10th win of the season as he took the opening stage of the Tour of California in Sacramento on Sunday evening.
Cavendish (Etixx – Quick-Step) profited from a strong lead-out from team-mate Mark Renshaw to comfortably beat Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) into second place and Jean-Pierre Drucker (BMC Racing) into third in Sacramento.
It was the second year in succession that he has was the race’s opening stage and was Manxman’s sixth career victory at the Tour of California.
Cavendish also picked up 10 bonus seconds for the win and now leads the general classification by one second over second-placed William Clarke (Drapac Pro Cycling), who picked up nine bonus seconds out of the day’s breakaway, and four seconds over Sagan, who collected six bonus seconds for finishing second..
Cavendish said: “Mark set me up perfectly at about 200m to go and I'm super happy to win here in Sacramento. We timed it just right. When I saw Sagan in the wind I knew I had it.
“I would really like to see if we can go for another win with me in the yellow jersey. Then we will take it day-by-day in the next stages.”
The eight-day race continues on Monday with a 193.7km second stage from Nevada City to Lodi.
Stage one result
1 Mark Cavendish (GB) Etixx – Quick-Step, 4:43:27
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo, same time
3 Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing, st
General classification
1 Mark Cavendish (GB) Etixx – Quick-Step, 4:43:17
2 William Clarke (Aus) Drapac Pro Cycling, +1sec
3 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo, +4
