HTC Highroad's sprinter Mark Cavendish says that he mistimed his sprint at the end of stage 1 and bemoaned an unfortunate puncture towards the end of the stage.
"I didn't time it perfectly," said Cavendish, "the guys came from behind and got it and that's how it goes."
"I was in the front little group, the team were riding for Gossy (Matt Goss) and I was just free styling today, trying to sit back and go for a surge because of the headwind up the hill. Then crash a couple go, I swerved, hit my wheel on a barrier and puncture."
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