SAINT-VULBAS, France — Mark Cavendish wrote a brand new chapter of Tour de France historical past in what is anticipated to be his final look at biking’s largest race.
The veteran Isle of Man sprinter broke Eddy Merckx’s long-standing document for many profession Tour de France stage wins together with his thirty fifth victory on Wednesday.
The 39-year-old Cavendish sprinted for the win within the fifth stage of the Tour, pulling away some 100 meters from the road regardless of being bunched in. He crossed the road forward of Jasper Philipsen after which celebrated with teammates.
Norwegian rider Alexander Kristoff, who had crashed earlier, completed third. They got the identical time of 4 hours, 8 minutes, 46 seconds.
Sixteen years after his first Tour stage win, Cavendish spoke of his fixed starvation for victory.
“I all the time wanted to win yet another,” mentioned Cavendish, who was joined by his kids on the rostrum. “It takes rather a lot to get there yearly. I’ve obtained unbelievable folks round me.”
Two-time champion Tadej Pogacar narrowly prevented a crash and completed nestled in the primary pack in thirty fifth place. Whereas Pogacar retained the race chief’s yellow jersey, the day belonged to Cavendish.
He equaled Merckx’s mark of 34 wins in the course of the 2021 Tour and went near No. 35 within the seventh stage final 12 months when he was narrowly crushed by Philipsen. He crashed a day later and broke his proper collarbone.
Merckx, the Belgian thought of essentially the most dominant rider in biking historical past, gained his 34 particular person levels on the Tour from 1969-75.
Cavendish’s resolution to provide it yet another shot paid off.
“I simply wished to get the run-in to do it. I’m a bit bit in disbelief. Astana put an enormous gamble on this 12 months to ensure we’re good on the Tour de France,” Cavendish mentioned. “We’ve accomplished it.”
Along with his 2023 race ending early, Cavendish determined to place off retirement by a 12 months and got here again to attempt once more.
Lastly, Cavendish made biking historical past, after profitable his first Tour stage again in 2008.
Different riders have been comfortable for Cavendish, with a number of stopping to talk with or hug him after the 177.4-kilometer (110-mile) leg from Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas
Merckx amassed his wins in an period throughout which his domination was such that he earned the nickname “The Cannibal.” In contrast to Merckx, one in all 4 riders to win the Tour 5 instances, Cavendish has by no means gained the general title, or come shut.
However Cavendish’s longevity amongst his fellow Tour sprinters has no equal.
He gained the Tour de France finest sprinter’s inexperienced jersey twice. He additionally gained levels in any respect three Grand Excursions — the others are the Giro d’Italia and Spanish Vuelta — and have become a world champion in 2011.
Cavendish joined Astana after his contract with Fast-Step Alpha Vinyl expired and he was missed for the 2022 Tour.
Cavendish had confronted a tough begin to this Tour. Through the first stage, he appeared to wrestle with abdomen and warmth points.
“I understand how it really works, my coach and everybody round me is aware of how it’s,” Cavendish mentioned. “I’ve accomplished 15 Excursions de France. I don’t wish to have unhealthy days, I don’t wish to endure however I do know it’s simply within the head and to push by way of it.”
In the meantime, Pogacar has one other flat stage to get by way of safely Thursday, having reclaimed the chief’s jersey Tuesday with an excellent assault close to the highest of the race’s first massive mountain cross.
On Wednesday, he was merely relieved to keep away from crashing.
“We have been within the bunch after which all of the sudden one thing got here up within the center from nowhere. The fellows in entrance of me braked and we touched wheels a bit bit, however fortunately I escaped,” he mentioned. “I reacted on intuition and was very fortunate.”
The 25-year-old Slovenian leads total by 45 seconds from Tour debutant Remco Evenepoel, the Vuelta and world champion in 2022. Pogacar is 50 seconds forward of two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard — the Danish rider who was badly injured in a high-speed crash on the Tour of Basque Nation in early April.
Pogacar is aiming for the uncommon Giro-Tour double, and for his third Tour title after wins in 2020 and 2021. The final rider to win the Giro and the Tour the identical 12 months was the late Marco Pantani in 1998.
Wednesday’s stage noticed Clement Russo and Matteo Vercher forming a breakaway after 35 kilometers (22 miles).
On condition that French riders gained the primary two levels by way of Romain Bardet and Kevin Vauquelin, this will likely have motivated them. With rain falling, Russo and Vercher have been caught with 36 kilometers (22 miles) left.
Stage 6 on Thursday is once more fitted to sprinters, going by way of vineyards to Dijon on a primarily flat trek of round 100 miles. The primary particular person time trial is on Friday.