Cavendish won four stages of last year's Tour de France

Mark Cavendish is making final preparations for the nine-day, 750-mile Tour of California which starts in Sacramento on Saturday.

The 23-year-old has made a great start to 2009, winning two stages of the Tour of Qatar but admits the California stages are not ideal for sprinters.

"I've looked at the route and it's a lot tougher than last year," he said.

"Only one of the stages looks like it will end in a bunch sprint, so I will target that one for sure."

Saturday's prologue is a fast and flat 2.4-mile course which will start and finish in Sacramento.

The stage will also see the seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong compete in his first road race on American soil since he returned from retirement.

Cavendish is preparing for the tour at his team Columbia-Highroad training camp in Solvang.

Team Columbia-Highroad line-up

• Mark Cavendish (GB)

• George Hincapie (USA)

• Kim Kirchen (Lux)

• Mark Renshaw (Aus)

• Michael Rogers (Aus)

• Adam Hansen (Aus)

• Michael Barry (Can)

• Thomas L�vkvist (Swe)

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version