Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team riders Mark Cavendish and Iljo Keisse waited until the perfect moment to launch a flurry of attacks in the final Madison event of 6-Tagerennen Zürich on Saturday, gaining an advantage within the last few laps to clinch the victory!
Cavendish and Keisse dominated the final laps so much that Keisse had brief moments to bunny hop. But the overall victory was far from easy, as the duo went into the final Madison down 8 points on Jasper De Buyst and Kenny De Ketele. They then had to chase back some earlier laps gained by Silvan Dillier and Leif Lampater, and again when Dillier and Lampater continued their offensive after the first sprint. But the Manx Missile and Keisse were able to take a lap themselves, and then with 6 laps to go they kept up their effort to see if they could take enough points for victory. They were successful, as Dillier and Lampater were the only team to finish on the same lap as the Omega Pharma - Quick-Step duo, but with not enough points to remove Cavendish and Keisse from the top step of the podium.
Congratulations Mark and Iljo! This is the 68th victory, in three disciplines, for Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team in 2014.
"Of course I am happy about this victory at 6-Days Zurich," Cavendish said. "It wasn't easy to compete with Lampater and especially Dillier, who is a local guy and was really going for it in the end. But we got the win and I'm proud of what we did at the end of a really difficult Madison. It's my first 6-Days victory, so it's great to have another career milestone. But I'm also happy for Iljo, who is such a talent on the track and he is also a wonderful teammate. At 6-Days Gent we were learned a lot about each other, and how to best use what we each can do to our advantage. That we were able to win a 6-Days after our second try shows our chemistry. I am super happy about this, because it also shows I am in good condition. To get these kind of kilometers every night, at race intensity, is really important for my build up to next season, so this was a good choice for me. To get a victory to complement this kind of winter preparation is really a bonus. Now I'll spend a week at home, and then join my entire team at training camp in Spain. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and getting ready for the 2015 season after getting into a nice winter rhythm on the track."
6-Tagerennen Zürich FINAL
1. Keisse/Cavendish 245 points
2 Lampater/Dillier 224
3 De Buyst/De Ketele 250 +1 lap
4. Marguet/Kalz 233 +1 lap
5. Torres/Muntaner 164 + 1 lap
