Cavendish close to first victory for T-Mobile Team on debut in France

 

7 Feb 2007

 

In his debut race for Team T-Mobile, Mark Cavendish finished a close second behind Angelo Furlan (Credit Agricole/Italy) on Wednesday's first stage of the Etoile de Besseges. After 126 km around the French city of Marseille the Italian held off the Briton's challenge in the final sprint. Team colleague Andre Greiple also was up with the leaders, but was out-sprinted in the last curve.

 

T-Mobile Team Sporting Manager Allan Peiper was satisfied about the team's performance. "We have two top sprinters competing for the first time in a team and they still have to work things out between each other. In the next few days I'm sure this cooperation will function better and I'm optimistic that it will lead to success".

 

The first European tour of 2007 (UCI category 2.1) was marked by some aggressive attacking cycling. Unibet tried to match Tuesday's success at the GP Ouverture La Marseillaise by breaking away from the peloton. T-Mobile's other British rider, Roger Hammond, again showed he could lead from the front and was able to stay in contention with the main leaders on the undulating terrain. But French teams Cofidis and Credit Agricole didn't let the group get too far ahead and were able to narrow the gap as the race went into the decisive final phase in the Golfe du Lion.