Mark Cavendish Makes History With Record Tour De France Stage Victory

Mark Cavendish made Tour de France history on Thursday by securing his 35th stage victory in a sprint finish. This achievement saw him surpass Eddy Merckx as the record holder for the most stage wins in the event. Cavendish, who won four stages in the 2021 edition, emerged victorious after a 177.4km route from Saint Jean De Maurienne to Saint Vulbas.

At 39, Cavendish became the second-oldest stage winner at the Tour de France, following Pino Cerami, who was 41 when he won in 1963. "We just wanted to get the run-in to do it. I'm in a bit of disbelief," said Cavendish, who now rides for Astana Qazaqstan team and struggled to finish stage one last week.

"It was a big gamble for my boss and the team. You have to go all-in and we have done it. We did exactly what we wanted to do," he added. "Every little detail has been put towards specifically today." The official Tour de France Twitter account celebrated his achievement with a congratulatory message.

"The Tour de France is bigger than cycling. Records are made to be broken. Bravo Sir Mark Cavendish on 35 stage wins," read their tweet.

Records are made to be broken.

Bravo Sir Mark Cavendish on 35 stage wins.

Les records sont faits pour être battus.
Bravo Sir Mark Cavendish pour tes 35 victoires d'étape.https://t.co/Y1ZA52aJtg

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 3, 2024

Cavendish's good friend and former teammate, Geraint Thomas, expressed his joy over this milestone. "It's unbelievable I am super happy for him," said Thomas. "To continue to do what he does at his age—at 39—everyone says you get slower when you get older but he has proved them wrong."

"It is great he has the record alone and is not sharing it with anyone," Thomas continued. "I said 'mate if you win this stage just drop your bike and walk away' but he was like, 'if I win the first one, I'll want to win more,' so he's definitely going to hang around isn't he."

Admiration from Competitors

Tadej Pogacar, who leads the general classification, also praised Cavendish's accomplishment. The two-time Tour de France champion remarked: "Incredible. A 35th victory for Mark." Pogacar added humorously that Cavendish had asked him not to break his record but admitted he couldn't see himself achieving such a feat.

This historic win cements Cavendish's legacy in cycling and showcases his enduring talent and determination despite his age.