Exclusive: Mark Cavendish backed for stage win at Tour de France by Alberto Contador - 'I think he can'

ByAlex Livie

Published 22/06/2023 at 08:09 GMT

While many eyes will be drawn to the general classification battle between Tadej Pogacar and defending champion Jonas Vingegaard at the Tour de France, there is a subplot concerning Mark Cavendish who needs one stage win to break out of a tie with Eddie Merckx for most stage wins in the famous Grand Tour. Eurosport's Alberto Contador feels he will do it.

Alberto Contador has backed Mark Cavendish to secure a win at the Tour de France to break out of a tie with Eddie Merckx for the most stage wins in the famous Grand Tour.

Cavendish bounced back from a spell in the wilderness to win four stages in the 2021 edition of the race to move level with Merckx on 34 victories.

The 38-year-old was controversially omitted from the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team for the 2022 race, and left them at the end of last season.

Cycling

Cavendish set to return from illness at Tour of Turkey as Tour de France preparation continues

18/04/2024 at 08:42

It was well into 2023 before Cavendish signed a deal to join Astana Qazaqstan, and he secured a big win for the team when landing the final stage of the Giro d’Italia - which came a few days after he had confirmed his retirement at the end of the season.

The win proved Cavendish still had the fire in his legs to compete with the best sprinters, and would have filled him with confidence going into the Tour de France.

Victory in the 21st stage also proved Cavendish’s standing within the peloton, as he called on old friend Geraint Thomas, from rival team Ineos Grenadiers, for a brilliant lead out.

'Help a brother out!' – Thomas on helping Cavendish to sprint victory on Stage 21

He was warmly embraced by scores of riders after his 17th Giro stage win - with many aware of what he has done for the sport.

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

There will be stiff competition on the roads of France and Spain for Cavendish, but Contador feels he will get the win required to take him ahead of Merckx.

“I think if Mark Cavendish is on the start line of the Tour de France, his morale will be at an all-time high after winning a stage on the Giro,” Contador told Eurosport. “Backed with a team that are experts in preparing sprinters… I am sure that Mark Cavendish is doing everything he can to start the Tour de France in the best way possible.

“Can he do it? I think he can.”

Cavendish will be putting the finishing touches to his prep for the Tour, which gets underway in the Spanish city of Bilbao on July 1, and Contador feels he will focusing on his own strategy as opposed to what his rival sprinters will be doing.

“I focused on myself 100% during preparation,” Contador said. “Because if you want to show up as the best version of yourself, you have to suffer.

“You will think about them when you are suffering. Why? Because you know there is one person who is really going to test you. In my case it was Andy Schleck and Chris Froome perhaps that I thought about the most while training. But you always have to focus on yourself in order to arrive at the start line in the best form possible.”

- - -

Stream the 2023 Tour de France live on Eurosport and discovery+

Tour de France

'I had no option!' - The men hoping to guide Cavendish to record 35th Tour de France win

27/02/2024 at 11:33

UAE Tour

Cavendish pulls out of UAE Tour due to illness

24/02/2024 at 14:00

Tour de France

Exclusive: Evenepoel will have 'less pressure' at Tour due to Vingegaard presence - Contador

23/02/2024 at 09:11