Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) won a classic bunch sprint today at the end of stage 6 of the Giro d’Italia.

In a stage marked by a crash that fractured the peloton 17 km from the finish, Elia Viviani (Cannondale) was second and Matt Goss (Orica – GreenEdge) rounded up the podium.

Once again the Giro was marred by a crash.

“It made everyone nervous,” said Cavendish. “All the GC teams, including BMC, Sky, were in the leading group there with less than 3 km to go. I just tried to follow Gert Steegmans. There was always going to be a team going too early. My boys waited and waited, and then hit it at the right time.”

Somewhat surprisingly, Cavendish revealed that he does not consider himself to be in peak form, despite his seemingly effortless win today.

“I was in top form for the Classics; then I had 3 weeks before the Tour de Romandie with not much training. I had such good form that I don’t have to work so hard to win. In top form, I’d have got over yesterday’s climb, no problem.”

As always, Cavendish was quick to heap praise on his teammates after a win.

“My team was brilliant today. We led the peloton from the beginning. All the guys rode until their legs couldn’t go any more, and that was before the lead out even began. I haven’t seen my team ride for a year now until their legs could go. Gert Steegmans at his best is one of the best lead-out men ever.”