Mark Cavendish has made history at the Tour de France, securing his 35th stage victory to surpass the legendary Eddy Merckx. The 39-year-old sprinter triumphed in a dramatic finish at stage five in Saint Vulbas, cementing his place as the race’s most successful stage winner.
Contesting what he has indicated could be his final Tour, Cavendish surged ahead in the closing moments, crossing the finish line with arms raised in celebration before being embraced by his team.
The achievement comes a year after Cavendish’s 2023 Tour was cut short by a crash, just one stage shy of breaking the record held jointly with Merckx. Reflecting on his win, Cavendish remarked, “You sprint and go as hard as you can until you get to the finish… That is the nature of this race and what makes it so beautiful,” in an interview with ITV.
Initially planning to retire after the 2023 Tour, Cavendish’s desire to claim the outright stage win record motivated him to continue. After a comeback in 2021 with the Belgian Quick Step team, where he won four stages, Cavendish faced setbacks in 2019 and 2020 due to health issues and injuries.
Joining Astana Qazaqstan in 2023, Cavendish’s resolve was tested once more when a crash sidelined him, reinforcing his decision to extend his career.
Tour director Christian Prudhomme praised Cavendish’s perseverance, stating, “It is a wonderful story. He is the yellow jersey of the sprinters.”
Following a challenging stage five route from Saint Jean de Maurienne to Saint Vulbas, Cavendish seized the opportunity prepared by his Astana Qazaqstan team, marking the culmination of careful planning.
Race leader Tadej Pogacar retained the yellow jersey after narrowly avoiding disaster during the stage, maintaining his lead in the General Classification standings.
Stage six presents another chance for sprinters, with a flat 163.5km route from Macon to Dijon, concluding with an 800m-straight finish.
