Cavendish reveals he is going for Tour green jersey
For the first time in the Tour de France, Mark Cavendish has confirmed the green points jersey is now a major goal and admitted he is now ready to fight to keep defend all the way to Paris what he describes the 'holy grail' for sprinters.
So far Cavendish has always said he was focusing on stage victories but he has put his cards on the table for the first time and admitted to Cycling Weekly that he will be fighting to keep the green jersey all the way to Paris.
Cavendish and his Columbia team mates played a game of bluff with Thor Hushovd and their other sprint rivals on the stage to Vittel but still ran out the winners.
Cavendish gained two points on Hushovd by winning the first sprint and then gained another by beating Hushovd to eighth place at the finish. He now has a total of 200 points, 10 more than Hushovd.
“We discussed it this morning, about the possibility of green now,” he revealed to Cycling Weekly.
“Ok I'm eating my words because I said I wasn't targeting but I've changed my mind. We went for the intermediate sprint and tried to get some points at the end.”
“We weren't going to ride for the win. There were seven guys away and Ag2r rode well to keep the gap down but my guys are only human. They rode so hard all Tour and all yesterday and if other sprinters want to contest the sprint they can sprint it. I wanted to save my guys. The Alps are looming and I don't want them suffering in the Alps, so we tried to rest as much as possible.”
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Thor Hushovd has told Norwegian journalists that he is no longer going for the green jersey but Cavendish does not believe him.
“If you notice I said all along I wasn't going for it but now I am. That's how it is. I don't think he'll give up. I know he's a great guy and will want to put on a show for his fans and his sponsors so I don't think he's going to give up. It's the green jersey, you know.”
Cavendish loves wearing the green jersey and talks emotionally when asked why it is so special.
“It's the holy grail for sprinters and it's an emotional thing to wear, I love wearing it. I'm never going to win the yellow, so this is the next biggest thing I'm going to get.”
That can only mean that he's going to fight for it all the way to Paris.
TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 LINKS
Tour de France 2009 - the hub: Index to reports, photos, previews and more.
STAGE REPORTS
Stage 11: Cavendish takes fourth win to equal Hoban's record
Stage 10: Cavendish spoils Bastille Day party to take third stage win
Stage nine: Third French win as contenders content with ceasefire
stage eight: Sanchez wins from break as Tour favourites cancel each other out
Stage seven: Feillu wins at Arcalis, Nocentini takes yellow, Contador leap-frogs Lance
Stage six: Millar's brave bid denied on Barcelona hill as Hushovd triumphs
Stage five: Voeckler survives chase to win his first Tour stage
Stage four: Astana on top but Armstrong misses yellow by hundredths of a second
Live Tour de France stage four TTT coverage
Stage three: Cavendish wins second stage as Armstrong distances Contador
Stage two: Cavendish takes first sprint
Stage one: Cancellara wins opening time trial
LATEST TOUR NEWS
Tour de France 2009 News Index>>
Analysis: Why Cavendish is one of the modern greats
Radio ban over-turned for Friday's Tour stage
Arvesen out of Tour with fractured collarbone
Tour analysis: Why the go slow did cycling no favours on Bastille Day
Cavendish's odd stage 10 finish celebration explained
No radios today, but experiment could be a one-off
Tour audio: Mark Cavendish after stage 10
Contador brushes aside talk of Armstrong conflict
Cavendish odds-on favourite for Bastille Day victory
The Tour de France Comment: Monday, July 13
How the favourites are doing (first rest day)
Wiggins stays with leaders at Tour
Armstrong: 'If Contador wins, I'll be second'
Wiggins 'on cloud nine' at Tour de France
Armstrong says Contador attack wasn't in the plan
Cavendish survives the first Tour mountain stage with ease
Wiggins, the Tour de France overall contender, has arrived
EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS
Garmin-Slipstream's HQ before the Tour
David Zabriskie's time trial bike
Mark Cavendish on the Tour's team time trial
David Brailsford interview
Mark Cavendish on the Tour
Jonathan Vaughters on Bradley Wiggins' chances
TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 PHOTOS
Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage four TTT photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage one photo gallery by Andy Jones
Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson
Team presentation by Andy Jones
Team presentation by Graham Watson
TOUR GUIDE
Tour de France 2009 - the hub
Tour de France 2009: Who's riding
Tour de France 2009: Team guide
About the Tour de France
FEATURES
Tour de France 2009: Who will win?
Tour de France 2009 on TV: Eurosport and ITV4 schedules
Big names missing from 2009 Tour de France
Tour de France anti-doping measures explained
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish
Cycling Weekly's rider profiles
Follow the Tour on Cycling Weekly's Twitter feed
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Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
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