Mark Cavendish claims record-breaking 35th career Tour de France stage win

The seasoned Isle of Man sprinter broke Eddy Merckx’s record for the longest time.

 

SAINT-VULBAS, France — Mark Cavendish wrote a new chapter of Tour de France history in what is expected to be his last appearance at cycling’s biggest race.

The seasoned Isle of Man sprinter broke the record of Eddy Merckx’s longest-running the most consecutive Tour de France stages won with his 35th win on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old Cavendish raced to victory during the 5th stage of the Tour by advancing about 100 metres from the finish despite being tangled in. He crossed the finish line in front of Jasper Philipsen and then celebrated with his teammates.

Norwegian racer Alexander Kristoff, who had lost control earlier, was third. They had identical times of four hours and eight mins 46 seconds.

Seventeen years after his first Tour stage victory, Cavendish spoke of his unending drive to win.

“I always wanted to win a second time,” said Cavendish, who was accompanied by his kids at the top of the list. “It is a long process to be there each year. I’m blessed with amazing people close to me.”

Two-time winner Tadej Pogacar was able to avoid the crash and was placed in the front pack in the 35th position. While Pogacar kept the yellow jersey of the race’s leader but the race was won by Cavendish.

He reached the same mark as Merckx’s with 34 victories on his 2021 Tour and went close to achieving the number. 35 on the seventh stage of last year’s tour when he narrowly lost by Philipsen. He crashed the next day and fractured his left collarbone.

Merckx the Belgian thought to be the most dominant cyclist in the history of cycling He won 34 individual stages in the Tour between 1969 and 1975.

Cavendish’s determination to try another shot was rewarded.

“I was just trying to run in to accomplish it. I’m in shock. Astana took a big risk on the race this year, to ensure that we’re successful in this year’s Tour de France,” Cavendish declared. “We’ve done it.”

As his 2023 race was about to end in the early hours, Cavendish decided to put off retiring for one year, and returned to race again.

Then, Cavendish made cycling history after he won his first Tour stage in 2008.

Other riders were happy for Cavendish, with several stopping to speak with or hug him after the 177.4-kilometer (110-mile) leg from Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas

Merckx won numerous times during a time when his dominance was so strong that he was nicknamed “The Cannibal.” Unlike Merckx who is one of only four riders who have won the Tour five times, Cavendish has never won the overall title or have even come close.

However, Cavendish’s endurance in the ranks of his peers Tour sprinters is unmatched.

He was awarded his Tour de France best sprinter’s green jersey two times. He also took part in stages at the three Grand Tours — the other two are those of the Giro d’Italia and Spanish Vuelta — and was named the world champion in 2011.

Cavendish was signed to Astana when his agreement in Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl expired and Cavendish was not selected for the 2022 Tour.

Cavendish has had a challenging beginning to this Tour. In the first stage the cyclist was struggling with stomach problems and heat.

“I know how it works. My trainer and my entire team knows the process,” Cavendish said. “I’ve done 15 Tours de France. I do not like having bad days. I don’t like to be a victim,, but I’m sure it’s inside my head and to get to get through it.”

In the meantime, Pogacar has another flat section to complete safely Thursday after having claimed the race’s leader’s shirt Tuesday after a spectacular move near the top of the race’s initial major mountain pass.

The following Wednesday, the driver simply content to have avoided crashing.

“We were all in the same group but then something popped out of the distance. The men ahead of me slowed down and we slammed into the wheels for a moment but I managed to stay clear,” he said. “I was able to react on instinct and was very fortunate.”

This 25-year old Slovenian is leading all-around by 45 seconds in front of Tour newcomer Remco Evenepoel. He will be the Vuelta and the world champion for 2022. Pogacar is ahead by 50 seconds of the two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard – the Danish cyclist who was severely injured after being badly injured in an accident at high speed during the Tour of Basque Country in the early part of April.

Pogacar is hoping for an unheard-of Giro-Tour double, as well as three Tour title following wins in 2021 and 2020. The last person to win both the Giro as well as the Tour in the same year was late Marco Pantani in 1998.

The stage of Wednesday featured Clement Russo and Matteo Vercher formed a breakaway after a distance of 35 km (22 miles).

In the event that French riders had won the first two stages with Romain Bardet and Kevin Vauquelin It is possible that this been a motivator for them. When the rain started falling, Russo and Vercher were stopped with just 36 km (22 miles) left.

Stage 6 on Thursday is ideal for sprinters that will take you through vineyards and to Dijon on a mostly flat, easy trek of about 100 miles. The first time trial of an individual will be held on Friday.