Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Mark Cavendish sprinted to a 5th place in the Vattenfall Cyclassics. His team mates Julian Alaphilippe and Matteo Trentin animated the final 30 kilometres of the race.
After the 3 early escapees were caught Alaphilippe attacked from the peloton. He was accompanied by 4 other riders, including team mate Trentin. They opened up a small gap, but the peloton reeled them in quickly. Alaphilippe tried again in the resuming kilometres, but was caught again.
Katusha worked on front of the peloton for their sprinter Alexander Kristoff. The Norwegian rider finished off the work of his team mates by winning the race in front of Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek) and Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE). Cavendish was well placed in the final kilometre and sprinted to a 5th place.
"I'm happy about this race," Cavendish said. "The team did well. We got some WorldTour points wich is important, and the team showed confidence in me. They did a great job and i'm proud of how they committed to trying to win this race. I missed a bit of my usual sprint prowess in the final, but after only a month of a training and the injury I suffered, I am satisfied with how I did. I'm happy both with my result at the end, being able to close a bit of distance coming from a few positions back, and also how I performed from start to finish. Considering what's happened to me in the last month I have to be pleased about this performance and look forward to the next races with a good mood."