Mark Cavendish Sets New Tour de France Stage Wins Record

Mark Cavendish secured his place in cycling history on Wednesday by clinching his 35th stage victory at the prestigious Tour de France, the world’s most famous and challenging cycling race, surpassing the legendary Eddy Merckx in a thrilling sprint finish in Saint Vulbas.

In what is likely his final Tour appearance, the 39-year-old Briton surged ahead in a dramatic finale to stage five, a sprint finish where cyclists accelerate to their maximum speed, crossing the finish line triumphantly and breaking the record he had shared with Belgian great Merckx since 2021. Cavendish, known as the Manx Missile, was warmly embraced by his team after the historic win.

“This race is a rollercoaster of unpredictability. You sprint as hard as you can, and if you cross the line first, maybe your life changes,” Cavendish reflected in an interview with ITV, capturing the thrilling essence of the Tour de France.

The victory comes a year after Cavendish’s Tour was cut short due to injury, just as he was poised to break the record then. Determined to rewrite history, Cavendish delayed retirement plans to achieve his long-standing goal.

“I couldn’t let my career end with an unfinished story,” Cavendish said, underscoring his resilience through setbacks, including battles with illness, injuries, and depression.

Stage five, spanning 177.4 km from Saint Jean de Maurienne to Saint Vulbas, saw Cavendish and his Astana Qazaqstan team meticulously prepared for the momentous sprint, navigating through challenges, including several crashes, to secure the win. Despite this, race leader Tadej Pogacar retained the yellow jersey.

With 165 career victories, Cavendish has etched his name into Tour lore, reflecting on a journey that began sixteen years ago with his first stage win in 2008. Since then, he has been a dominant force in sprint finishes, earning the nickname ‘Manx Missile’ for his explosive speed and agility.

Former teammate Geraint Thomas, echoing the sentiments of many in the cycling community, lauded Cavendish’s achievement, saying, “It’s unbelievable. I’m super happy for him. He’s earned this moment.” This camaraderie and sportsmanship is a hallmark of the cycling community.

Stage six on Thursday promises another opportunity for sprinters over a 163.5 km route from Macon to Dijon, with a straight finish primed for high-speed contention, setting the stage for another thrilling chapter in the Tour de France.

Source:newsghana.com.gh