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Sprinters set for Aussie showdown

The 'Manx Missile' Mark Cavendish has declined to acknowledge a major rivalry exists between him and his old team-mate Andre Greipel ahead of their clash in the Santos Tour Down Under, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Cavendish was happier to give his thoughts on Australian women, who he cautiously described as ‘friendly’, than the speculated feisty relationship between he and his old team-mate.

A 15-time stage winner at the Tour de France, Cavendish dodged a barrage of questions about the rivarly between he and his German foe who were team-mates for a year but will now saddle up for different teams in the opening event on the UCI World Tour.

Cavendish, riding for HTC Highroad, is one of the headline acts at the Tour Down Under with Greipel, now riding for Omega Pharma Lotto, a two-time winner of the event which started with a Cancer Council criterium – won by HTC team-mate Matt Goss - before the first road stage on Tuesday.

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