Tour de France - Cycling world reacts to 'greatest sprinter in history' Mark Cavendish after record-equalling stage win

ByEurosport

Updated 09/07/2021 at 21:03 GMT

The world of sport has been paying tribute to Mark Cavendish after he continued his remarkable Tour de France with a 34th stage win that equals the record of Eddy Merckx. You can watch the Tour de France live and ad-free on the Eurosport app and Eurosport.co.uk. Download the Eurosport app for iOS and Android now.

The sporting world has been paying tribute to Mark Cavendish after the British rider equalled the long-held record of Eddy Merckx with a 34th Tour de France stage victory.

The Deceuninck-Quick Step star edged the sprint into Carcassonne after a tricky final corner saw a clear lead-out train for much of the final stages cut, resulting in a close finale.

Cavendish finished just ahead of Michael Morkov, who was quick to salute his teammate's achievement.

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Morkov said: "I can understand Cavy pushing it away, but now he has equalled Eddy Merckx, it’s amazing - just as a sports fan as well.

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If I wasn’t his teammate I’d still think it’s really special for a rider from this time to pass a legend, or at least equal it now.

"It’s some history isn’t it? He broke like a 50-year-old record. Having said that, Merckx won these stages differently so you can clearly say Mark has been the greatest sprinter there ever was in cycling."

WATCH - Every single one of Mark Cavendish's 34 Tour de France stage wins

Morkov wasn't alone, with British Cycling, as well as former England Rugby Union great Brian Moore and many others, keen to acknowledge Cavendish's outstanding performance.

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