Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Mark Cavendish showed he can win more than just the bunch sprints on Sunday, taking the British National Road Championship out of a breakaway that was down to just three riders in the final kilometers.
In the British National Road Championship, Cavendish was eventually in an escape group of four riders with more than a four minute gap on the next closest rider with just a few laps remaining in the race. The escape group eventually dwindled to three riders deciding the finale. Andrew Fenn was also in the group earlier for OPQS, but lost contact.
"The weather was a bit rainy, and the parcour a lighter version of Tour of Flanders," OPQS Sport Director Brian Holm said. "They basically closed Glasgow, the center of the city, for this race. The crowd was fantastic. I also have to add that Fenn did a great job for Cavendish today. He entered into the breakaway in the first part of the race and he permitted Cavendish to sit behind and stay covered until the final kilometers."
As the race progressed Cavendish was showing his form, keeping pace on the climbs with the leaders. He also attacked on the final climb, and was even able to take the victory after chasing down David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) when he attacked with less than 3km to go. Ian Stannard (Sky ProCycling) was 2nd, and Millar 3rd.
The victory of Cavendish concluded a very successful week of national championships for OPQS in 2013. The team won three in the time trial with Sylvain Chavanel (France), Tony Martin (Germany), and Peter Velits (Slovakia) earlier in the week. Cavendish's win — his first British Championship — was also the 39th victory (37th road) for the team this season.
"I'm really happy with this result," Cavendish said. "To be honest this morning I wasn't so sure because there were so many teams here with a lot of riders and there were only two of us here — me and Andy. The parcour was not so easy, really technical. Fenn was in the original breakaway with Stannard. It was a good move to put Fenn in the front so I could save myself and sit on the wheels of the chasing group and stay relaxed. Then when we caught Fenn and Stannard, I started riding. In the final kilometers there remained only three of us and I went for the sprint. It was really, really nice. I'm happy because I am proud to be British and wear this jersey for the first time in my career, especially heading into the Tour de France."