The reigning world champion Mark Cavendish seems to be in sparkling early season form.  He sprinted to two victories at the Tour of Qatar and it could have been three on stage 4 which saw Boonen and Cancellara going head to head at the sharp end of the peleton.  Sure, you expect Tom Boonen to be killing the Tour of Qatar and you expect the Garmin riders to be fit, and some of the new teams like GreenEdge.

For the hardcore cycling fans the story of the race is Cavendish winning early and the confidence he and his teammates displayed.  It was all to similar from the 2011 World Championships where a united Great Britain team displayed the best team work seen in years.  All dedicated for one rider.  What if this display of teamwork happened at all the races for the Manx Missile?  So far in 2012 it seems like Sky is ready to deliver their sprinter, and he is ready to win for them.  In 2009 Cavendish won 2 stages of the Tour of Qatar, a month later he won Milan San Remo on his first try.  What is the limit of Mark Cavendish?  Can he climb the hills of Flanders?  I think you’ll see the bar set higher in 2012.

First wins of the season for Mark Cavendish:

2007 – Grote Scheldeprijs – April 18th

2008 –  Giro d’Italia – May 10th

2009 – Tour of Qatar – February 1st

2010 – Volta a Catalunya – March 22nd

2011 – Tour of Oman – February 20th

2012 – Tour of Qatar – February 7th