The finish was not even close. Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team dominated the front so much in the final kilometers of 189km Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 6 on Monday that they had five riders in front of Mark Cavendish with about 2.6 kilometers to go.

 

The team was technically sound navigating final turns and kept the pace high enough on the front to line out the field. OPQS hit the corners with confidence already in great position on the front, and a crash happened behind them that made matters even worse for other teams.

 

When it came down to just Alessandro Petacchi and Cavendish with a couple hundred meters to go, there was a considerable distance between those two and the rest of the field. Cavendish launched with no one around, and Petacchi was able to throw his hand up in celebration and still cross the finish line for a 1-2 finish. Mark Renshaw was also 9th.

 

OPQS timed the effort perfectly. Cannondale forced a high pace earlier in the stage while a breakaway was up the road, causing Giant-Shimano sprinter Marcel Kittel to lose contact.

 

Then, when the breakaway was caught inside 10km to go, Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team) went off the front. He was brought back with 3.4km to go. OPQS then moved up on the right, all five riders of the leadout train ready to guide the Manx Missile to launching position. They completed the effort with a victory, approaching the final kilometers with high motivation and plenty of power.

 

This is the 17th victory, in three disciplines, for OPQS in 2014. It is also the second victory for OPQS at Tirreno-Adriatico, as they won the TTT. OPQS also contended the GC until yesterday, as both Cavendish and Michal Kwiatkowski wore the Maglia Azzurra at different points of the race.

 

"I'm incredibly happy," Cavendish said. "Yesterday I felt really the worst I've felt in a long time. Considering the day before, today I felt really good even from the beginning. The team stayed with me, with one goal today obviously to win the sprint. Kwiatkowski was sad about yesterday, but he gave everything today to try and get us the win.

 

"We didn't have to work as we worked the whole week. We're tired. We knew Cannondale would try to break it up on the last climb, another difficult climb. But the team stayed with me, especially Kwiato and Tony keeping me out of the wind and bringing me back to the front as soon as possible.

 

“The whole team was fabulous. I had everyone around me. We dropped back on each climb, but we stayed together and moved as a unit to the front afterwards.

 

"Then that lead out, that leadout was fast. The whole team was fabulous in the final. We stayed together, we didn't get carried away and go too early. So we had the all the big motors in the last four kilometers. Tony just went on the front with no one to match us. Then Kwiato went and took us into the last kilometer.

 

"It was down to Matteo, Renshaw, Petacchi, and myself. I knew when Renshaw went with about 600 meters to go, I knew it would be hard for anyone to pass because we were going that fast. We were doing more than 1000 watts for the last 600 meters. It was like doing a sprint.

 

"You know with the kind of team we have here it is always going to be fast. You saw it in the team time trial. But to get it perfect technically like we did I was super super happy with that. We can go home and celebrate this victory tonight, and go for a good result with our two big engines tomorrow: Kwiato and Tony.

 

"I feel like Omega Pharma - Quick-Step brought a strong team here. Not just in the legs, but a group of friends. It really feels like a family. It's a nice situation to be in. There isn't a lot of pressure, we just want to go out and do well. It's so refreshing and nice to be back like that. We've got 23-year-olds like Kwiato and Matteo, and 40-year-olds like Alessandro. But it really feels like a bunch of kids just going out to race their bikes.

 

"It's obvious that I don't look like a pro and so what I do in my head is very important; my moral is vital. When there's a good group around me, when you've got riders who give their everything, their last drop of energy, it's a nice position to be in. I don't want to let them down and want to going and do my best, while still having fun.

 

"I haven't seen my family for a few weeks now and won't see them until after Milan-San Remo. It'd be difficult if I was away and miserable. It's not great to be away from home but at least I'm not miserable."

 

Cavendish is now ready to give Milan-Sanremo what could be his final shot.

 

"I'm fortunate to get one more shot," he said. "It's not a secret I disagree with the changes. Italian people have a high regard for history and the history of Milan-San Remo. I think that changing the Milan-San Remo route is like getting Banksy to paint the inside of the Pantheon. It changes the whole race.

 

"When I knew there was a chance of the Pompeiana being taken out, I became totally focused. I've been training specifically for it and losing weight without jeopardizing things for later in the season.

 

“I was very tired at the Tour last year, so we decided to start the season late. I’m probably fresher than last year.

 

"I know I have to give it a try. I'm a past winner and I step up for big races, I was also top ten last year. As I said if I don’t ride, for sure I'd regret it. We've got lots options in the team with Boonen and even Kwiatkowski. We've got a meeting on Friday and then we'll decide our plans."

 

OPQS looks next to the final stage tomorrow: A 9.1km ITT. UCI World TT Champion Tony Martin and Michal Kwiatkowski will be eyeing this stage for top results.

 

"I know the stage from last year, it was a good win," Martin said of the time trial course. "So, I'm pretty motivated. It looks like the same parcours from the book. I had a good feeling there last year. I think it suits me really well.

 

"I saw today my condition is good and I've recovered from the previous two stages. There is some power left. I am focused and I really would like to go for my first individual time trial victory this year."

 

You can read our preview of the final stage here and follow our love coverage at 14.15 CET on CyclingQuotes.com/live.