Cavendish pays price for error in judgement
GREAT Britain’s Mark Cavendish, a familiar name to fans in Doha after his exploits at the Tour of Qatar, said it was an error in judgement rather than lack of speed that cost him the men’s elite title.
Cavendish had won the general classification and opening stage at this year’s Tour of Qatar.
“I’m disappointed. I feel like I lost gold rather than I won a silver. I wanted to be on Sagan’s wheel, but then all of a sudden the road was blocked. I tried to find a way through, but couldn’t move forward. By the time I had crossed Australian rider Michael Matthews, it was too late,” said the 31-year-old.
Pre-championship achievements had made him one of the favourites to challenge Sagan. Cavendish had an amazing run, including gold at Track World Championships in Madison, USA, four stage victories at the Tour de France in July and the omnium silver at the Rio Games.
He and Adam Blythe, who finished 12th, were the only two British cyclists to make it into the 26-rider top group that arrived at the Pearl-Qatar.
“I told Adam to come with a few hundred metres to go and when he came alongside, it spread everyone and everyone jumped. I had nowhere to go. But losing Luke Rowe to a puncture was the saddest part. It would’ve given us three in the front,” he added.
