Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Mark Cavendish wrapped up the AMGEN Tour of California with the second victory out of the two stages that ended in bunch sprints. The victory in 121.7km Stage 8 was everything but easy, however, as OPQS worked in full support of the Manx Missile to bring him back to the main group after he lost contact late in the race. They then had to protect him for the sprint.
OPQS brought the Manx Missile back to the peloton with about 10 kilometers to go.
"To be fair I wasn't anticipating a sprint today," Cavendish said. "I wasn't going to start today, let alone finish. But then I just thought I'd start. I'd maybe get dropped the first time, maybe do another lap for training, and then that would be it. I had a small breakfast and we started. A few guys suffered the first lap, but the second lap I actually punctured on my own at the bottom of the climb. So I had my wheel changed by neutral service and rode the second climb alone. But, I had good power. I was passing a lot of guys. Then over the top I could see the group and I was chasing the group. Then I got back on, on the descent. I thought if I could do that, then I've got a shot of getting over on the last lap as well. So, I just thought I would try and hang in there on the last lap. I got dropped a bit, but I had Mark Renshaw and a few strong guys from other teams with me. The guys who were with me wanted to get back on. So, we went full gas on the descent and we almost got back. Then my teammates Niki Terpstra and Carlos Verona, who were in the breakaway, came back. They chased for the team and we got back on."
Once a breakaway was reeled in, OPQS put riders on the front to set up the pace for the sprint in the final kilometers. Cavendish had a few riders with him as the finish line approached, and Matteo Trentin guided him to the front of the group inside the final kilometer.
The British Champion stayed on the wheel of Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and the two battled in the final meters. John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) was able to come back and pass Sagan for 2nd, but the British Champion held on and won the race. This is the 31st win, in three disciplines, for OPQS in 2014.
"Matteo Trentin put me in perfect position for the last kilometer," Cavendish said. "Niki Terpstra also did a great job. I just wanted to follow Peter. Then Giant-Shimano came, so I got in there, squeezed in, and that's about when Peter launched. I knew with 200 meters to go, on that finish, I would be able to have the speed after a week's racing. So I just went and I was a bit fortunate. I celebrated early and John nearly beat me. But overall I'm super happy with the group and my condition. I'm in good shape and the guys rode really incredible today. They really had some guts and I'm proud to again finish the job of a great team effort."