Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel set for Belgium showdown
Mark Cavendish will enter Sunday's Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne as defending champion in what is set to be his first clash of the year with German sprinter Andre Greipel.
Cavendish has enjoyed his most successful pro season start collecting six victories with new team Omega Pharma-Quick Step to Greipel's four with Lotto Belisol. The duo, along with Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), currently top the 2013 victory ranking.
Greipel's season success has come from an organised lead-out, plus his burst of speed in the final 200m is impressive. The former world champion Cavendish has been well protected by teammates throughout races but in contrast has adopted a freestyle approach in finishes.
It begs the question how the two will compare this weekend assuming the 198km semi-Classic comes down to a bunch sprint, which it may not with possible snow and a maximum temperature of 5 °C forecast.
"I've watched a few of the sprints that Cavendish has won this year already and you can see the train sort of melts down in the final couple kilometres," Lotto Belisol pilot Greg Henderson said. "That's where our Lotto train is actually the strongest is in the final 2K so the odds stack in Greipel's favour in that circumstance.
"The lead-out eliminates variables. It doesn't guarantee Greipel a win, especially if say Cavendish doesn't have a lead-out, and has planted himself on Greipel's wheel for however many kilometres, but it makes sure he can deliver his best sprint.
"Cavendish comes from the track, he's very crafty in the bunch and can find his way to the front on his own if he has to. But if he has to start three bike lengths behind Greipel, and if he doesn't have a lead-out or someone to help him get to Greipel's wheel then it's going to cost him energy to get there, and then maybe he doesn't have the last little bit of energy it takes to get past."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The duo met at the same race last year where Greipel was boxed in within the final 300m and finished 10th. Lotto-Belisol this season also has a winning option in Jurgen Roelandts should a mass sprint not eventuate.
"Last year we had a really good opportunity to win the race," Henderson said. "Greipel had Cavendish's wheel, it was actually a role reversal, and then hesitated a little too long so never got to unleash his sprint."
Tom Boonen is unsure of his form, having suffered health setbacks over the pre-season, and will decide after Saturday's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad if he will start Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne with Omega Pharma-Quick Step.
Cavendish would not entertain how his winning approach to the season thus far may compare to Greipel's this weekend.
"Between me and him, we're the two best in the world, I believe, in the sprint," Cavendish said.
"You shouldn't go into a bike race to try and beat someone else, you should go in to a bike race to try and win. My goal is always to cross the line first regardless of who is there."
Asked if his adaptability in a fast finish would be an advantage going forward the 27 year old said: "No, I don't believe so. I believe when we get a group together we're going to be the strongest team there for the sprint.
"The most dangerous thing is there are teams that don't have a strong lead-out but think you need one. They look at how HTC was, they look at how Lotto is and they believe you need a lead-out. You get them trying to organise themselves, you've got two of them on one side of the peloton, two on the other and it causes carnage."
Cavendish eyes up a century career win in this week's Cycling Weekly magazine, out today for £2.99
Related links
Mark Cavendish not prepared to be centre of Milan-San Remo team
Mark Cavendish wins Tour of Qatar
Mark Cavendish Quick Steps out of Tour Down Under
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Sophie Smith is an Australian journalist, broadcaster and author of Pain & Privilege: Inside Le Tour. She follows the WorldTour circuit, working for British, Australian and US press, and has covered 10 Tours de France.
-
Virtual cycling becomes real: We watched the esports world championships live in Abu Dhabi and it absolutely delivered
Exciting racing, celebrity attendance, pyrotechnics: it was so much more than watching people ride their trainers
By Christopher Schwenker Published
-
London 3 Day live stream: Watch Sunday's action on Cycling Weekly's YouTube channel
Watch live as track cycling stars go head-to-head at the Lee Valley Velodrome
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins to reunite on the bike to raise money for US hurricane relief
The British knights will be joined by Jan Ullrich at the Gran Fondo Hincapie next week
By Adam Becket Published
-
'One of the boys thinks I’ll be walking about in armour': Mark Cavendish knighted in ceremony at Windsor Castle
Manxman says he was “nervous” after being made a Knight Commander by Prince William
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Mark Cavendish
From working in a bank to breaking records on the Champs-Élysées
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'There aren't many accolades left for him to get': Mark Cavendish knighted in King's Birthday Honours list
The sprinter follows in the wheel tracks of Bradley Wiggins and Chris Hoy
By Adam Becket Published
-
'It was surreal' - Mark Cavendish turns up at local Isle of Man race, finishes 29th
The Manxman, a big supporter of his home scene, pinned on race numbers last weekend
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Mark Cavendish has a run-in with police dogs
The Brit was sniffed out at the UAE Tour, and reacted as all of us would
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Mark Cavendish takes mid-race selfie with fan
It was photo time at the Tour Colombia in another wild week on social media
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Mark Cavendish robbery: Police say ‘net is closing in’ on final suspect linked to violent raid
Essex police say time is running out for George Goddard who is wanted in connection with the attack on the Cavendish family home
By Tom Thewlis Published