Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) answered his critics in devastating fashion
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Italian sprinter comes of age after beating Cavendish in Vedelago
Mark Cavendish (Sky) crossed the finishing line with rage as he lost stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia in Vedelago, arriving runner-up to second year pro Andrea Guardini, 22, from Farnese Vini-Selle Italia. The world champion admitted that the young Italian was “faster and more powerful” than him on that day.
“I’ve always believed that I’d beat Cavendish one day,” Guardini said. “I knew that I had to anticipate him in the sprint. In the last three kilometers, I took a place behind the train of Saxo Bank. I knew it was the best, even without the Haedo [Juan José] who beat me in the [French cup race] GP Denain, but with his brother [Lucas Sebastian who finished fifth]. They have surprised everyone but not me.”
Stage 18 was perfect for Guardini with its short distance of 149km, featuring a finale of sixty kilometers absolutely flat to finish. “There were maybe four or five sprinters left for today’s bunch gallop,” the Italian said. “We were 198 riders at the start in Herning and we’re only 167 left in contention now. That means something.
“I’ve really suffered on the climbs but I’ve endured it. During the first week of the Giro d’Italia I didn’t believe in myself enough. I’d been struggling in the sprints. I was not happy with finishing tenth in Denmark. That wasn’t at the height of my value. Also at the Tour of Turkey, I didn’t collect the results I wanted before the Giro. I knew this sprint was the last chance I had. It was today or that I’d have to wait until next year.”
All of Guardini’s previous victories this season were collected in Malaysia where he won six stages at Le Tour de Langkawi, scoring a new record in the history of the Asian race. He also notched the first win of his career at Langkawi one year before. “I love that race
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