Two great team efforts to deliver Marcel Kittel to victory had given Giant-Shimano the perfect start to the road stages of the 2014 Giro d’Italia. And it appeared as though they would make it three from three when four of the riders hit the front with perfect timing, just as crashes behind them split the bunch on the final lap. Despite Kittel’s absence, Luka Mezgec was in tow and the team were looking in great shape.

The leader was executed to perfection, each rider pulling a big shift on the front, ready for Tom Veelers to unleash Mezgec for what appeared certain victory. Except it did not quite work out like that. As the riders rounded the final corner, a Giant-Shimano man went clear, leading out the sprint. But it was not Mezgec – who had come to grief with his gearing – but Veelers. And with the efforts of the lead-out taking its toll, Veelers challenge faded and Nacer Bouhanni came past for the win. Fortune was on their side on stages two and three, but for Mezgec the elusive first Grand Tour stage win continues to desert him.

Marcel Kittel – now for the Tour

Marcel Kittel’s withdrawal through illness was unfortunate, both for the rider and organisers. Though expected to pull out before the mountainous final week to prepare for the Tour, there were still plenty of opportunities awaiting for him to showcase his sprinting talents and rack up the stage wins. Every cloud though, has a silver lining.

Any doubts as to whether Kittel would pull out of the Giro, if he were in a strong red jersey position, have been alleviated and the hotly anticipated showdown between the WorldTour’s two fastest men, Kittel and Mark Cavendish – both of who have been in supreme form – awaits. Critics will say Kittel was competing against an inferior field at the Giro, but the same will not be true of the Tour. If stage one finishes with the anticipated sprint finish, Harrogate is set for quite the showdown.