Nat Bromhead
Less than two weeks from his 37th birthday, and 14 years since his maiden Giro stage win, sprint legend Mark Cavendish won Stage 3 of the 2022 event in Hungary.
Producing a powerful 300m sprint at the end of the 201km stage, ‘the Manx Missile’ proved he is still one of the fastest men of the WorldTour, with several other top sprinters making up the top 10.
Caleb Ewan, who crashed in the final moments of Stage 1 of this year’s Giro, finished 8th on Stage 3. He later told reporters that he left his sprint too late, however his legs feel good and he has many opportunities to come.
“I am very happy,” Cavendish said after the stage.
“We really wanted to do good in the first bunch sprint, and that’s exactly what we did,” he continued. “I’m so delighted with this great victory, 14 years after my first one here and nine years since my last success in this amazing race that I love so much,” continued the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider.
“The boys were phenomenal today, the way they protected me and controlled the peloton was just outstanding. I knew I had to deliver with such a fantastic team around me and I’m content I could do it. Everyone was so committed today. In the sprint, things were hectic, but Michael Morkov remained super cool all the time. Then I had to go long in the end, with 300 meters left, but I had the legs to do that and I’m happy I could hang on for that long,” Cav concluded.
Giro d Italia Stage 3 Top 5
| 1 | Mark Cavendish Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team | 4:56:39 |
| 2 | Arnaud Démare Groupama – FDJ | 0:00 |
| 3 | Fernando Gaviria Rendon UAE Team Emirates | 0:00 |
| 4 | Biniam Girmay Hailu Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux | 0:00 |
| 5 | Jakub Mareczko Alpecin-Fenix | 0:00 |
