Mark Cavendish is a 'real threat' for Tour de France record after Giro d’Italia win – Jens Voigt

Published 28/05/2023 at 19:43 GMT

Only a few days after writing off Mark Cavendish’s chances at the Tour de France, Eurosport expert Jens Voigt staged an on-air U-turn as he backed the Manx Missile to challenge for a record 35th stage win this summer. Cavendish rolled back the years with a sensational win on Stage 21 at the Giro d’Italia after support from Ineos star Geraint Thomas in a thrilling finale in Rome.

'I have to eat my own words' – Cavendish backed to challenge for Tour de France record

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) has been backed to threaten the Tour de France stage record this summer by Eurosport expert Jens Voigt – just days after the German had ruled it out.

Cavendish ripped away to a brilliant victory on Stage 21 at the Giro d’Italia after Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) stepped in to assist his dwindling sprint train in the closing stages in Rome.

The 38-year-old, who will retire at the end of the season, will now recover before heading to the Tour in a bid to claim the outright record of stage victories. He is currently tied with Belgian great Eddy Merckx on 34 wins.

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“You can never underestimate how much these sprinters just operate on confidence,” said Voigt on The Breakaway after Cavendish's 162nd career win on the road.

“Cav does everything spectacularly – he crashes spectacularly, he wins spectacularly. It’s never normal. He’s always on the extreme.”

On his earlier claim that Cavendish would be marooned on 34 wins at the Tour, Voigt said: “I have to eat my own words. Cav is actually a real threat for the Tour and the record.

“Look at the gap he put into everyone else. These were no terrible bike riders he just beat, it was a really superb win like he was back in his best days. He is up for the Tour. Everything is possible now.”

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Prior to his win in Rome, Cavendish had not tasted victory since June 2022 as he struggled to compete with younger sprinters in the peloton.

His move to Astana Qazaqstan in January came about after he departed Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, where he won four more stages at the Tour de France in 2021 to tie Merckx’s all-time record, only to be snubbed the following year.

Cavendish's victory on Sunday means he now boasts 54 wins across the three Grand Tours, with only Merckx (64) and Mario Cipollini (57) ahead of him in the all-time standings.

“I didn’t expect the way he was going in this Giro to win a stage. This is by far his best performance of the Giro. This is pure Mark Cavendish, this is what he does,” said 12-time Giro and Tour stage winner Robbie McEwen.

“And when it needs to go right, the last possible chance, that’s when he comes to the fore. That’s when he does his best work.”

Cavendish has spent 17 years in the pro peloton and claimed the points classification at all three Grand Tours, notably at the Tour de France in 2011 and 2021.

“What can you say about that man? 38 now and struggling through this whole Giro d’Italia with crashes, getting himself over all the mountains," added Dan Lloyd.

"I half expected him to go home after 10 days but that’s the reason why he didn’t. He’s won that final stage by about five or six bike lengths in the end. He made it look easy.”