Guardini surprises at Giro
Hesjedal still second after Italian wins stage
VEDELAGO, Italy — Up- andcoming Italian Andrea Guardini inflicted a surprise defeat on world champion Mark Cavendish in a bunch sprint at the end of Stage 18 of the Giro d’italia on Thursday.
Spain’s Joaquim Rodriguez retained the overall lead with three days remaining.
Cavendish hammered his handlebars in frustration after the 22- year- old Farnese Vini rider out- powered the Briton by more than a bike length on the flat stage from San Vito di Cadore to Vedelago. Italy’s Roberto Ferrari was third.
“I couldn’t be happier, it’s an amazing thing because I’ve beaten the world champion, at least today,” Guardini, in his second year as a professional, told reporters.
“I accelerated away with 250 metres to go, I saw Cavendish was behind me and couldn’t beat me, it’s incredible.”
Guardini is riding in his first major tour.
“Just making it through to the third week of the tour was already a little victory for me,” he said.
“And after a victory like this one, I’m going to do my best to go all the way through to Milan.”
Cavendish was honest in defeat.
“He was the fastest in a fast sprint today and certainly had more energy than me,” he told Italian television reporters.
Asked why he had thumped his handlebars, he answered simply; “I don’t like losing.”
Leading the points competition, Cavendish said he had made a big effort to increase his lead by winning a midstage bonus sprint at the top of a climb.
“I used up some energy there, but I want to take the red jersey ( of points competition leader) all the way to Milan,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for that crash with [ Italian sprinter Roberto] Ferrari [ on stage three], I think I’d be in a comfortable position now for the red jersey, but now I’ll have to fight for it.”
Overall, as the race tackles the first of two key mountain stages today, Spain’s Rodriguez remains in the overall lead, 30 seconds ahead of Victoria’s Ryder Hesjedal and with a oneminute, 22- second advantage over former double Giro winner Ivan Basso of Italy.
“Hesjedal is not wearing pink [ leader’s jersey], but he’s the clear overall favourite,” Rodriguez told reporters. “I have to try and drop him before Sunday’s time trial, and the same goes for everybody else if they want to win.”
The Giro finishes on Sunday in Milan with an individual time trial.