HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish won today's sprint at the Vuelta a Espana in Lleida, Spain with shocking ease, coming clear along with leadout man Matt Goss in the final 500 meters of the race and soloing home with arms raised. Just prior to a right-hand turn at 300 meters to go, Goss accelerated with Cav on his wheel just as the Lampre train was taking its foot off the gas. A gap opened between the two HTC riders and the Quick Step guys, with Tyler Farrar behind them, and the gap opened to a gulf around the turn. Cavendish and Goss completed the spectacle by chatting to each other in the final meters, and Goss could have easily taken second (or first) had he cared to. Kind of a flukey scene, but the takeaway message is, don't follow the Lampre train if Petacchi isn't around.
- Mark Cavendish, HTC
- Tyler Farrar, Garmin-Transitions
- Matt Goss, HTC
- Denis Galimzyanov, Katusha
- Thor Hushovd, Cervelo Test Team
Cavendish should be back in the Puntos lead, with about 9 points or so on Farrar.