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Farrar outkicks Cav' at Tirreno-Adriatico

Published: Mar. 13, 2009
2009 Tirreno-Adriatico, stage 3: Farrar wins
2009 Tirreno-Adriatico, stage 3: Farrar wins
Photo: Graham Watson

Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Slipstream) bolted past Mark Cavendish (Columbia-Highroad) to win Friday’s third stage at Tirreno-Adriatico.

Cavendish looked to have the sprint in the bag when Farrar came off Cavendish’s wheel and surged past his left shoulder to take the biggest win of his European career.

“I’m super happy with the victory. It’s the first win of the year. I knew I was strong at (the Amgen Tour of) California. I was fourth, fifth in the sprints, so I knew I was getting stronger,” Farrar said. “The team did a great job putting me in position and then I was looking for the wheel. I started the sprint and I was faster today.”

Cervélo had five men on the front to lead out the sprint, with Cavendish and Farrar holding back behind such riders as Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) and Tom Boonen (Quick Step).

2009 Tirreno-Adriatico, stage 3: Farrar out kicked Cavendish.
2009 Tirreno-Adriatico, stage 3: Farrar out kicked Cavendish.
Photo: Graham Watson

The victory is Garmin-Slipstream’s second big win of the week. Christian Vande Velde won a stage at Paris-Nice on Wednesday.

Will Frischkorn (Garmin-Slipstream) snuck into the day’s main move with two other riders.

With one lap to go, the gap was down to 1:19 and it was hard to believe in their chances with all the sprinter teams collaborating to set up their fast-twitch thoroughbreds. The trio was swept up with less than 10km to go.

The 44th Tirreno-Adriatico continues Friday with the decisive summit finish to Montelupone. The 171km fourth stage starts in Foligno and tackles the Passo del Cornello at 30km before a gradual descent toward the hilly final half of the race.

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