It was worth trying and he came close, but the long wide boulevards of Barcelona did it for him.
The TV coverage alone of Garmin will go along way, teams value the publicity even a doomed move can bring. But Millar's a sportsman and would have dearly wanted the win. I suspect he'll have his chance again, he's in good shape. His climbing abilities were impressive in the Dauphiné so it'll be interesting to see how he does in the hillier stages.
Just seen highlights on ITV4 and was willing him to win and shouting "Go on David" at t'telly but it made no difference... God of Thunder went for the sprint really early - too early for Cav who was a bit too far back in the bunch , but also seems to favour shorter faster sprints anyway. If Cav could have got to the front earlier perhaps Columbia would have been able to raise the pace too high for anyone else to get away which would allow Cav to get the win again... or maybe they weren't after the win today?
It seems a really exciting tour so far this year. A big scary Astana wave is building up behind the leader though - I don't think Cancellara will hold off the Astana Tsunami much longer!
Brilliant gutsy effort, I accidentally found out the result before watching the highlights :x so I knew he wasn't going to win, but it didn't stop me yelling COME ON MILLAR! at the telly in the last few km's.
Unfortunately I happened across today's result via the BBC website this afternoon. Didn't stop me watching the V-plussed race though and willing him on from the 10k marker. Garmin have guts, there's no denying that.
God of Thunder went for the sprint really early - too early for Cav who was a bit too far back in the bunch , but also seems to favour shorter faster sprints anyway. If Cav could have got to the front earlier perhaps Columbia would have been able to raise the pace too high for anyone else to get away which would allow Cav to get the win again... or maybe they weren't after the win today? !
I think it's pretty clear that a lot of the advantage Cavendish has in the sprints is to aerodynamic, rather than simply power, so when the road isn't flat, he simply doesn't have the power to stay with the other sprinters.
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Not much of consolation but he got the most combatitive rider award for today.
The TV coverage alone of Garmin will go along way, teams value the publicity even a doomed move can bring. But Millar's a sportsman and would have dearly wanted the win. I suspect he'll have his chance again, he's in good shape. His climbing abilities were impressive in the Dauphiné so it'll be interesting to see how he does in the hillier stages.
It seems a really exciting tour so far this year. A big scary Astana wave is building up behind the leader though - I don't think Cancellara will hold off the Astana Tsunami much longer!
I hope he has another go and succeeds, nearly in yellow there.
This tour is brilliant
I think it's pretty clear that a lot of the advantage Cavendish has in the sprints is to aerodynamic, rather than simply power, so when the road isn't flat, he simply doesn't have the power to stay with the other sprinters.