HERNING, Denmark - Mark Cavendish comfortably won the second stage of the 2012 Giro d'Italia following a sprint at the end of the 206km stage. The Team Sky rider beat Green Edge's Matt Goss into second and FDJ's Geoffrey Soupe was an unfancied third.
Cavendish had been the hot favourite to win the stage and justified the bookmakers' confidence by winning by more than a bike length in th finish at Herning. The race was somewhat marred by a massive crash on the final bend before the sprint finish.
Taylor Phinney, who took the time trial on stage one, retains the pink jersey. He lost his chain eight kilometres from the finish and showed impressive resilience to close a 30 second gap on the peloton.
Mark Cavendish said: "There was lots of wind on the coast. We were monitoring things and in control. We had Ian Stannard on the front. He did 150 kilometres alone reeling in the break - he did incredible. The guys were so great and they stayed together. We had a mixture of the old guard and new people. Jez Hunt, Bernie Eisel – experienced guys with G too. And guys like Pete Kennaugh who are pretty new and who I’ve not worked with before.
“Everybody handled it well and we stayed together as a team. I was really looked after at the finish and kept sheltered. Geraint took me perfect and went exactly when he was supposed to. I was able to come off him and win the stage so I’m very, very happy.”
Steven de Jongh, Team Sky Sports Director, said: “It was a really impressive result and a really good ride from the team all day. Especially Ian, he had an awesome day but it was nice to see the way they all rode. It was a big fight at the end but Cav looked comfortable in the sprint.
“Let’s hope so we can do it again tomorrow. G did a really good lead-out with the boys there. We’ll just take it day by day and tomorrow is another chance for a bunch sprint so we have an opportunity.”
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