02-04-2009 16:30:02

Mark Cavendish has repeated his personal track record of 2008 by taking victory
in stage two of the Three Days of De Panne in Belgium, and then following
it up with another win in the first section of stage three on Thursday.
Cavendish took exactly the same stages of De Panne last year, also in
bunch sprints. This year on stage three, Cavendish outpowered veteran
sprinter Robbie McEwen of Australia to win by just over half a wheel in
the host town of De Panne.

“It’s the same as in 2008, so it’s mission accomplished,” Cavendish said
afterward. “Robbie’s got great form, it was a hard sprint, but the team
set me up perfectly.” The British rider added that his back-to-back wins
at De Panne have given him exactly the build-up he needed for the
Ghent-Wevelgem Classic next Wednesday, his next big target. “Winning here
means I’m feeling really confident for that race. I’ve got a score to
settle with Ghent-Wevelgem after 2008 when it didn’t work out.”

“Yesterday [Wednesday] we rode over the Kemmelberg [a key climb of
Ghent-Wevelgem] during the stage and I tested myself to see how well I
could do. It went well. I closed down a gap on the climb, so I know my
condition’s good.”

Cavendish confirmed that he will not be taking part in the Tour of
Flanders, the team’s next race in Europe. “I’m not really ready for it,
although I really want to do it. Flanders is an event you dream about
racing when you’re young, so in a few years time, I’ll be there for sure.”