Clovis, CA - February 18, 2009 - On a day when the sun shone brightly on the Amgen Tour of California, Mark Cavendish (GBR) of Team Columbia-Highroad served it up during the final kilometers of a challenging Stage 4 course, which took the riders from Merced to Clovis, and included five King of the Mountain (KOM) and two sprint competitions.
Considered by many to be the fastest cyclist in the world, Cavendish narrowly held off a hard charging Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Juan José Haedo (Team Saxo Bank) to take his first victory of the 2009 edition of the race.
“This win was massive for me and for the team,” said Cavendish. “I was really driven and I wanted this win bad. The team stayed so well together on every climb and it played into our ends today.”
The dry conditions provided a much-needed respite from the inclement weather that had plagued the race for the past three days. The peloton celebrated the climate change like a dog being let off the leash to frolic in the park. After two neutral laps in Merced, the riders did what came naturally; they raced fast and furiously.
Several early breakaway attempts faltered, but at the 26-mile mark, as the roads began to kick upward, a group featuring Jason McCartney (USA) of Saxo Bank, Serge Pauwels (BEL) of Cervelo Test Team, Rock Racing's Tyler Hamilton (USA) and Francisco Mancebo, Floyd Landis (OUCH presented Maxxis), and Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) finally made it off the front.
The group would eventually be pared down to the trio of McCartney, Hamilton, and Pauwels as the riders continued to traverse the slopes of the Sierra Mountains. Their lead quickly climbed to more than five minutes with 50 miles to go, but with the mountains and motivated sprinters behind, the breakaway would end up like the previous day’s attempt.
“I am disappointed, really disappointed that we didn’t hang on in the end. Every kilometer I was out in that breakaway, I thought we were going to stay away,” recounted Hamilton. I knew the sprinters would put on a chase. McCartney was really strong and great to have in the race today. I just needed a couple extra kilometers.”
With the sprinters’ teams organized, the break was caught just inside the city limits of Clovis. The Cervelo Test Team looked as if they might be able to deliver a double for Stage 3 winner, Thor Hushovd, but Cavendish lived up to his “fastest” moniker.
"I was looking after so well after the climbs; my team really put me in a perfect position,” said Cavendish. “Mark Renshaw (Team Columbia-Highroad) helped me; it was the first time we got the lead-out right."
Results
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - Highroad
2. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step
3. Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
4. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervélo TestTeam
5. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
6. Markus Zberg (Swi) BMC Racing Team
7. Freddy Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing
8. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
9. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Fly V Australia
10. Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
General Classification After Stage 4
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
2. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad
3. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
4. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
5. Christopher Horner (USA) Astana
6. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana
7. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia - Highroad
8. José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Astana
9. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
10. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank
News and Noteworthy
- One of the best quotes to come out of the post-race press conference was delivered by Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia-High Road). In response to the question of whether the 23-year-old feels that he should win every sprint, he responded, "Well...Yeah." Of course some in the press room were goading him to answer in the affirmative, but he further elaborated by pointing out that he "...May not be the strongest rider, or the most technically sound...Some people think I have a reputation for being cocky or arrogant, but I think I’m just a realist. I’m the first to say when I’m bad at something, but I’m also the first to say when I think I’m good at something. My goals are my goals, not dreams; they are targets and I’ll do whatever necessary to make those targets. So when somebody asks me if I’m the fastest, I think I am. But I need to be put in a position where I can finish it. I think I’m unrivaled.”
- The majestic views of the field flying along with the snow-capped Sierra Mountains in the backdrop amidst brilliant blue skies and sun made for a perfect day of racing.
“The scenery on the course is awesome,” said Leipheimer. “It’s very pretty and there were a ton of people, even in the snow, cheering for us. I think it’s great that the Amgen Tour of California can come to new places and spread the word.”
- The first dry day of the race was marred by serious injuries to three high-profile riders: Kim Kirchen (LUX) of Team Columbia-Highroad fractured his right clavicle and scapula; Oscar Friere (ESP) of Rabobank fractured two ribs on his left side; and Scott Nydam (USA) of the BMC Racing Team fractured his left clavicle.
- Apparently, the Triple is fairly big in Clovis. Maybe not as big as Hasselhoff's music is in Germany, but we're working on it; one t-shirt at a time. Many thanks to the beautiful Kristin Keim.
- The Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer™ Most Courageous Rider Jersey was awarded to Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing).
- If you haven't already guessed, Stetson hats were given away as stage prizes.
- Lance Armstrong's one-of-a-kind Time Trial bike was recovered. The only thing missing from the police photo of the recovered bike was a pair of cider blocks.
Next: Stage 5 - Visalia to Paso Robles (134.3 miles/216.1 km)
"After spending a devilish day in the mountains, the riders might welcome the thought of long flat roads in Stage 5, sponsored by Rabobank, but by no means will it be easy. In fact, at more than 130 miles, this new course is the longest of the race and includes two sprints along the way. Starting with parade laps through downtown Visalia, the peloton will then pedal across the San Joaquin Valley floor. The riders will be without shelter from the wind, which bodes to make the first 100 miles difficult. After passing expansive cattle ranches, horse farms and vineyards, the final 30 miles of the route winds back to the coast over rolling hills that lead to a dandy dash for the cash in Paso Robles."
Photos: © Leonard Basobas
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