Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Mark Cavendish finished 3rd in the final stage of the 100th Tour de France on Sunday, wrapping up a grand tour that included four stage wins for OPQS: Two for Cavendish, one for Tony Martin, and one for Matteo Trentin.
Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) came through the final corner in good position and, despite launching his sprint early, was able to hold his power and win on the Champs-Elysées in a close finish. Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) was 2nd in the 133.5km 21st Stage.
"It was a really fast sprint," Cavendish said. "To be fair, I wasn't quite in an ideal situation like I wanted. I said to Gert, go to lead me out. If I manage to get behind those two, Greipel and Kittel, that is perfect because I can go then. When they came past I shouted to Gert, I'll stay on them, but when I came around the last corner ... I think, in hindsight, maybe I should have gone earlier. But, for when I went I kicked really good. Andre went across the road, and I had to go around the both of them and it did take me into the roughest part of the road on the right. So I had to go into that. I had to stall a bit and I was able to go again. I was coming, but it was just too late to beat Marcel Kittel. It was Kittel's fourth win at the Tour here, so it's not like I've lost to an unknown rider."
OPQS also had other accolades related to the Tour de France: They earned a team combativity award for the first time in the history of the Tour de France, Sylvain Chavanel earned another combativity award for his attack on Bastille Day, and Michal Kwiatkowski finished 11th in the GC after also wearing the white jersey for several stages. Finally, OPQS won the "best team" award for multiple stages.
"We came here as as a team and we won four stages, so it's been a successful Tour," Cavendish said. "We were the most successful team I think here in terms of stages. A team to win four or five stages is a big, big thing. So we're definitely happy. It's been a while since Omega Pharma - Quick-Step has won stages at the Tour, for sure not this many. Michal also had the white jersey for a few days. So, we're really happy and hopefully we can continue this successful season."