Volta ao Algarve: Sacha Modolo sprints to stage one win as Mark Cavendish misses out
Mark Cavendish's winless start to the season continued on stage one of the Volta ao Algarve.
Last Updated: 19/02/14 5:31pm
The 28-year-old Briton crossed the line in Albufeira in 92nd place on one of only two sprint stages in the five-day race.
Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) continued his strong start to the year by claiming victory ahead of team-mate Rui Costa in second and third-placed Alessandro Petacchi, who is one of Cavendish's Omega Pharma - Quick-Step team-mates and lead-out riders.
Modolo now has four wins to his name in 2014 and, due to bonus seconds, moves to the top of the general classification.
He holds a one-second lead over Portuguese rider Cesar Fonte (Radio Popular), who formed part of the breakaway and collected a clutch of bonus seconds, with Costa a further three seconds back in third.
Thursday's second stage takes the peloton on a mountainous, 196km route from Lagoa to Monchique.
Stage one result
1 Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida, 3:51:46
2 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, same time
3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
4 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Europcar, st
5 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty-Groupe Gobert, st
6 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ, st
7 Edgar Pinto (Por) LA Aluminios-Antarte, st
8 Daniel Schorn (Aut) NetApp-Endura, st
9 Alexey Tsatevich (Rus) Katusha, st
10 Juan Jose Lobato (Spa) Movistar, st
Selected other
92 Mark Cavendish (GB) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
General classification
1 Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida, 3:51:36
2 Cesar Fonte (Por) Radio Popular, +1sec
3 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, +4
4 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +6
5 Luis Alfonso (Por) LA Aluminios-Antarte, same time
6 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Europcar, +10
7 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty-Groupe Gobert, st
8 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ, st
9 Mikael Delage (Fra) FDJ, st
10 Edgar Pinto (Por) LA Aluminios-Antarte, st
