Mark Cavendish secures ANOTHER stage win at the Tour de France as his remarkable return to form continues with the British star now within two victories of the all-time record held by Belgian legend Eddy Merckx
- Mark Cavendish won his 32nd Tour de France stage victory on Thursday
- The 36-year-old out-sprinted the peloton to win stage six in style
- It’s his second stage win this week and a third at Chateauroux, taking him within two of Eddy Merckx’s all-time record of 34
Just like 13 years ago, both hands instinctively shot up to his head. Just like before, the face of Mark Cavendish juggled joy and disbelief.
Unlike back then, though, no-one else should be surprised by this latest fairytale finish.
Not on the roads of Chateauroux, where Cavendish remains unbeaten since his first Tour stage win in 2008. Not when a sliver of space opened up on Thursday and the Manx rider made his move. Not even after he turned 36 in May.
Mark Cavendish (above) celebrates his second stage win of this year’s Tour de France
It was typical Cavendish in the closing sprint of stage six. The Deceuninck-Quick-Step rider picked off Jasper Philipsen and Nacer Bouhanni to win by three-quarters of a length.
It’s his second stage win this week and a third at Chateauroux, taking him within two of Eddy Merckx’s all-time record of 34.
‘Don’t say the name,’ Cavendish said afterwards. ‘I am not thinking about anything.
‘If it was my first or my 32nd, I have just won a stage of the Tour de France. That is what people ride their whole lives for.
‘I’m very, very happy. If I’m good enough to win another 50 or I never win again, so be it.’
The 36-year-old out-sprinted the peloton to win stage six in style on Thursday
A handful of sprint opportunities remain over the coming weeks, not least on the Champs-Elysees. He couldn’t break the record, could he, after his recent battles with injury and illness?
At the end of a 160.6km ride from Tours, Cavendish was led out by team-mate Michael Morkov before moving to the front and strengthening his grip on the green jersey.
‘Wow,’ he added. ‘It’s 10 years since I last won here. It’s pretty special.
It is the third time he has won in Chateauroux, including his first Tour win in 2008 and 2011
‘You see the guys, how much they pull. You’ve got the world champion Julian Alaphilippe just burying himself in the last few kilometres. It’s something special. I’m buzzing.’
Cavendish’s win meant no big changes in the race for the yellow jersey. Mathieu van der Poel still leads defending champion Tadej Pogacar by eight seconds, with Geraint Thomas 12th.
Meanwhile, the spectator who allegedly caused the pile-up which left 21 riders injured will escape legal or criminal charges. The Tour de France withdrew their complaint after the woman was arrested on Wednesday.
