Helper Henderson falls agonisingly short
Kiwi Greg Henderson’s leadout work for team-mate Andre Greipel fell three centimetres short of success as a leaner Mark Cavendish showed he was still too talented for the rest of the Tour de France bunch, outpacing his rivals for victory in the 207.5-kilometre second stage in Tournai.
It was the world champion’s 21st stage victory on the tour and an unusual one as he had to fend for himself, while previously he could rely on the ‘‘train’’ formed by his former HTC Columbia teammates.
It was a striking reply to those who doubted his chances in a Team Sky devoted to the overall success of fellow-Briton Bradley Wiggins. ‘‘The team this year is for the yellow jersey. It’s a new configuration and I knew it wouldn’t be easy,’’ Cavendish said.
‘‘I’m much more alone but I’m much more relaxed, in a sense.
‘‘I came into the sprint with the least pressure I ever had on the tour,’’ he added.
‘‘I’m happy to win a stage like today’s to show I’m the world champion and to show I could do it without a team to help me.’’
Henderson and fellow Lotto Belisol team-mates tried to organise and lead Greipel out for the final sprint, but Cavendish came back on his own from the middle of the bunch to stick to Greipel’s wheel and beat him on the line.
‘‘We were all at the right place at the right moment. Our victory will come,’’ Henderson tweeted.
‘‘Sometimes you get beaten by someone faster on the day. happens.’’
Cavendish had already proved in his three stage victories on the Giro d’Italia that he could handle any kind of race finish and he again maneuvered perfectly in the
It final metres of this long ride from Vise. Since the Italian Tour, Cavendish has lost three kilos to prepare for the Olympic road race, held on a bumpy course, and many of his rivals had wondered how it would affect his finishing power.
The victory made the Isle of Man rider the sixth most successful on the tour in terms of stage wins.
He is now only one victory short of seven-times champion Lance Armstrong and vintage French sprinter Andre Darrigade.
In the points classification, Cavendish trails first stage winner Peter Sagan, of Slovakia, by 15 points.
But he pledged to defend the green jersey so dearly won a year ago even if his main goal of the season remains the Olympic title in London.
‘‘I’ll keep trying. This is the Tour de France, the biggest race in the world, the most important event in cycling. I cannot say the Games are more important. Let’s say they’re level,’’ he said.
Swiss Fabian Cancellara stayed out of trouble to retain the overall leader’s jersey won in the prologue.
‘‘I’m glad to return to France with the yellow jersey on. I hope to have better legs tomorrow because it’s a hard stage we have marked down with my team management a while ago,’’ he said.
Tomorrow’s third stage takes the peloton to Boulogne-sur-Mer over 197km of a bumpy, tricky ride, especially as rain is forecast.