British rider Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team) will be able to enjoy a podium in his honour at the closing ceremony of the 111th edition of the Tour de France. The official protocol of the race confirmed it. Cavendish had won his 35th stage victory on this Tour de France, and had broken Eddy Merckx’s record.
With a sprint stage win on stage five from Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas, Cavendish wrote himself into the history books. He became the only rider to have won 35 stages in the Tour de France. Before the start of this 111th edition, ‘Cav’ shared the record of 34 victories with cycling legend Eddy Merckx.
Cavendish, 39, who delayed his retirement for a year to try to claim his 35th career stage win, crossed the line in tears on Saturday in what was likely to be his final mountain stage of a Tour de France. Second from last in the general classification, the Briton will start the time trial from Monaco to Nice, the final stage of the Tour de France, as the second-place finisher.
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme was one of the first people to greet Cavendish at the finish line on Saturday, which is why the Tour is also paying tribute to the British sprint legend with a personal ceremony at the end of the official podiums on Sunday night, after the time trial. Between the green jersey and yellow jersey ceremonies, a tribute to Cavenish is planned.
