Mark Cavendish powered to victory in a record-breaking 35th Tour de France stage 5.
Cavendish died on the fifth stage of this year’s race.
The 39-year-old surpassed Eddie Merckx in the history books.
Mark Cavendish broke new ground in the Tour de France, becoming the most spectacular stage winner in the history of the French race, as he took a record-breaking 35th victory in Saint-Vulbas with a typically natural sprint finish.
It may not have been as spectacular as the Champs-Élysées, but when the moment came on the Avenue des Bergères, in a suburban town better known for its boulodromes than its sprint spectacles, the 39-year-old from the Isle of Man gave it his all. His history with destiny.
“You all have to go in,” he said, “and we did it.” We did exactly what we wanted to do, how we built the team, the equipment. Every detail went special today. has gone
Cavendish, who masterfully weaved his way through a chaotic race to end Eddy Merckx’s long-standing record of 34 stage wins, was a million miles away from the rider who won the first stage of the Tour five days earlier. I was sweating and vomiting.
“You know when things are going well, you know when the team is dialed in,” he said. “It’s more to do with your belief and confidence, and I think you saw in the last half of the stage today, my boys were really determined.”
Cavendish’s comeback has become legendary but it was perhaps a triumph over the greatest adversity, given how hard he had to fight to get through Saturday’s stage from Florence to Rimini. “Usually it takes me days to get into it,” Cavendish said. “I’ve had 15 tours now. I don’t like bad days, I don’t like being in pain, but I know it’s only in the head and if you get through it, you can have a chance.
“Things have to go your way. It’s the Tour de France. You never feel fresh in that bike race. I think it’s the same for anybody.”
