"We weren't worried, it's always like that with Mark" - Cavendish's difficulties not stressful for Astana and Alexandre Vinokourov

Mark Cavendish struggled right from the very start of the Tour de France and his difficulties were one of the main stories of the first day. However from Astana Qazaqstan Team and team manager Alexandre Vinokourov there wasn't much stress, the Kazakh admits himself.

"We knew that this stage was going to be difficult. With almost 4000 meters of elevation, it's hard for the sprinters. We did everything at our own pace", Vinokourov said in words to Cyclism'Actu. The Manxman was dropped with 160 kilometers to go and was suffering from digestive issues due to the heat that the riders were feeling on the day. Michele Gazzoli, who was left supporting Cavendish, was forced to abandon the race because of the same reason.

There were certainly reasons to worry for the sprinter since the day was just starting and there was still plenty climbing left to deal with. The main concern was him making it to the finish, but even if that was then guaranteed, a time limit still had to be respected. In the end both were successful as the Manxman somewhat recovered from a very bad patch.

"We weren't worried, it's always like that with Mark. With such heat, it was hard for everyone, not just for us," Vinokourov says. Perhaps correct, as later on the Cavendish group joined up with Fabio Jakobsen and his trusted support rider on the day Bram Welten. "We lost a guy, it's a shame for the first day, a young rider (Michele Gazzoli, ed.), on his first Grand Tour. In my opinion he got too much sun, now he's in hospital."

The Kazakh team leaves the first day of the race battered and bruised whilst Alexey Lutsenko and Harold Tejada didn't show themselves in the front of the race. Stage 2 will be a less difficult day, but certainly there will be tension heading into the first day in the mountains this Tuesday.