Cavendish wins Milan-San Remo Classic at first attempt

By Stephen Farrand

SAN REMO, Italy (Reuters) - British sprinter Mark Cavendish won the Milan-San Remo race Saturday at his first attempt as Lance Armstrong finished well off the pace.

The 23-year-old fastman outpowered German Heinrich Haussler to notch his first major Classic victory by less than half a wheel after 298 km of racing. Norwegian Thor Hushovd was third.

Seven-times Tour de France winner Armstrong lost touch with the leading pack on the Cipressa climb around two thirds along the course in his first European race since coming out of retirement this year.

The 37-year-old American is preparing for May's Giro D'Italia.

The peloton split between the Cipressa and Poggio climbs but Columbia-Highroad rider Cavendish remained in the front group of some 60 riders.

"I said before the race that perhaps I couldn't win, but I never said it was impossible," Cavendish told reporters.

"I knew it would be hard but I had faith in myself and my team mates and they all did a perfect job."

"When Haussler accelerated, it surprised me," he added. "But there was a small gap on the left and I waited a moment, got in his slipstream and then beat him to the line."