The profile of the fifth stage of this year’s Tour de France was clearly adapted for a mass finish. After the demanding climb to the Galibier, the peloton literally rested today, and it was clear from the start that the sprinters were going to fight it out.
Cavendish did it!
Mark Cavendish thus had the second attempt this year to break away from the legendary cannibal Eddy Merckx. In the third stage, it turned out infamously for him, as he didn’t even make it to the final sprint.
However, today’s stage was completely under the control of his team Astana and already regarding 30 km before the finish line, they were leading the peloton and preparing their leader for the final finish. And Cavendish really burned everyone’s pond at the finish line. Although he stumbled slightly, he started the sprint first and no one might overtake him.
With his 35th stage victory on the old lady, he wrote himself indelibly into the history of the Tour. Until now, he shared the record with Merckx. It’s his first stage win on the old lady in three years. And whatever this year’s tour turns out for this rider. It has already been fulfilled.
He entered history and following the season he can hang his bike on a nail in peace. He wanted to do that already last year, when he broke his collarbone in the 8th stage of this race. However, his team and specifically Alexander Vinokurov convinced him to extend his career by a year and it paid off.
Most stage wins
35 – Mark Cavendish (Great Britain)
34 – Eddy Merckx (Belgium)
28 – Bernard Hinault (France)
