HTC’s star sprinter says he’s underpaid, but enjoying off-season in Delhi
Brit Mark Cavendish is frustrated over his team’s inability to secure a secondary sponsor for the next season. America’s HTC-Columbia team loses Columbia and head’s into next season with only mobile phone company HTC, which leaves Cavendish underpaid.
“I love the team, I love where I am. It’s the best place to do what I want to do, which is ride my bike and have fun and win, but if everything rests on you, you shouldn’t have that feeling of being taken advantage of. I don’t want to extort anything, I am a loyal person but I want to be paid fairly,” Cavendish told Britain’s Guardian newspaper.
Prior to the 2008 Tour de France, Team Manager Bob Stapleton reached a deal with Columbia Sportswear. Their agreement ends this year, which leaves Stapleton with only HTC, who he brought onboard last year.
“We’re the most successful team on the planet and something is wrong when we don’t have enough sponsors. Ninety nine per cent of people on the team, riders and staff, are not just performing, but over-performing. There are a couple of people whose job it is to get new sponsors and it’s frustrating when they can’t and we suffer for it. I’m just frustrated because I’ve been massively underpaid this year and next because for some reason we can’t get more sponsors.”
Cavendish’s season officially ended with HTC-Columbia on September 19 September at the Vuelta a España, where he won three stages and took the sprinters points jersey. It added to his five wins at the Tour de France and marked him as one of the top favourites for the World Championships in Geelong, Australia.
The Worlds course, however, ended up being too difficult for the fast sprinter. Norway’s Thor Hushovd won the race and Cavendish, racing for Great Britain, abandoned with three laps remaining.
“The Worlds was a massive disappointment,” said Cavendish. “I don’t know what it was exactly but I think I didn’t let myself recover after the Tour of Spain. It is hard to rest and do nothing. I kept testing myself every time I went out training, going further and faster.”
He travelled from Geelong to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games. A selective race ruined his chances in the road race a week ago on Saturday, but he has kept a positive spirit and is enjoying his time helping the other Isle of Man athletes.
“The guys who stayed away made a mistake,” said Cavendish, referring to the many athletes who decided not to come because of concerns over Delhi’s accommodations.
Cavendish helped his team by driving the car behind Andrew Roche in the time trial.
“I was even wiping his back after the warm-up. The thing is, I know what it’s like to be looked after, and these guys gave 100 per cent for me in the road race.”
Back in Europe, Cavendish is due in London on Thursday. He will attend the premier of the Chasing Legends film, which followers his team during the 2009 Tour de France.