Mark Cavendish was angry and disappointed after the finish of stage nine in San Vincenzo.
The 22 year-old from the Isle of Man was looking for a second stage win at the Giro d?Italia and his High Road team worked their hearts out to help him on the late climb and on the flat run-in to the finish.
Cavendish proved he could beat Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) in a head to head sprint and was considered the favourite to win but on the long straight finish in San Vincenzo he was blocked by Italy?s Tiziano Dall?Antonia (CSF Group) and finished seventh.
Cavendish pointed at Dall?Antonia even before crossing the line and continued to shout at the Italian for getting in the way. He had really wanted to win the stage in front of his long-time coach and confident Rod Ellingworth who was standing near the finish.
?I?m disappointed because I want to win a second stage and it would have been special because Rod was there watching,? Cavendish told Cycling Weekly.
?Unfortunately Dall?Antonia got in the way. He?s obviously got a right to have a go in the sprint but just hasn?t got the speed. He fights to get up there but then when the real sprint starts he goes backwards.?
?It?s a pity because the team worked really hard for me and I felt really good and was strong even on the climb. Unfortunately the sprint went down the middle of the road and so there were riders everywhere.?
Cavendish and the rest of the riders in the Giro spent Sunday night on the road to Pesaro for the first rest day on Monday.
It has been a long nine stages packed with transfers but Cavendish is enjoying it. He will have to go hard in the time trial but is aiming for the last two flat stages on Thursday and Friday.
?I was hoping for a second win but it?s good to be doing so well after a hard first half of the Giro,? he said.
?It?s good we?ve got a rest day on Monday but I?m going to have to go full gas in the time trial to avoid the time cut.?
?I still feel good and I?m going to have a go in the two flat stages before taking things day by day in the mountains.?
GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: STAGE REPORTS
Stage nine: Cavendish misses out in sprint
Stage eight: Ricco wins again
Stage seven: Di Luca, Ricco and Contador gain time on rivals
Stage six: Italians clean upStage five: Millar denied by snapped chain
Stage four: Cavendish wins
Stage three: Bennati romps home
Stage two: Ricco wins Giro d'Italia second stage
Stage one TTT: Slipstream wins Giro team time trial
GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: NEWS
Aggressive Cummings comes away empty handed [stage six]
Millar speaks out after missing out in Giro [stage five]
Reaction to Cavendish's Giro stage win
Cav hits back at Pozzato's snipe
Cavendish: This is my biggest win [stage four]
Millar celebrates Slipstream Giro d'Italia success
Bettini looking for final Giro glory
Astana's troubled build-up to the Giro
Petacchi banned for Salbutamol positive
Yates and Astana make last minute rush to Giro
GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: PHOTOS
Giro d'Italia 2008: Photo gallery. New photos added daily
GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: FEATURES
Giro Britannia part two: From rule Britannia to cruel Britannia
Tuesday Comment (May 13): Why Cavendish is a bona fide world-class star
Giro Britannia: how the Brits are doing in Italy
Giro d'Italia 2008 preview
Giro d'Italia 2008: who will win?
Giro d'Italia 2008: The British are coming
Giro d'Italia on Eurosport: TV schedule
USA Cycling unveils 2025 National Championship schedule with 17 chances to claim the Stars and Stripes jersey
Tech of the week: A shockingly expensive steel bike from Colnago, a surprisingly affordable carbon bike from Pinarello, DT Swiss energises our cycling lives and Pog's bars are now yours to buy
