Mark Cavendish, the British cyclist, has made history by breaking the record for Tour de France stage wins. At 39 years old, Cavendish secured his 35th career stage victory in Saint-Vulbas, surpassing the previous record held by Eddy Merckx. After enduring a crash in the Tour de France the previous year that caused him to break his collar bone, Cavendish has overcome illness and injury, as well as a diagnosis of depression, to achieve this historic milestone.
Speaking after his win, Cavendish expressed his disbelief and gratitude to his team, Astana-Qazaqstan, for supporting him in his comeback. His teammate, Cees Bol, praised his achievement, stating that Cavendish “nailed it.” This victory comes after Cavendish faced setbacks in previous stages, including struggling in the heat and being caught behind crashes.
Cavendish’s journey to this record-breaking moment has been marked by ups and downs. He won his first Tour de France stages in 2008 and had accumulated a total of 34 victories before this year’s win. His victory in 2021, which marked his 34th stage win, was seen as a remarkable comeback story after a challenging period of illness and injury. Cavendish’s resilience and determination have earned him a place in cycling history, surpassing a record set by one of the sport’s greats, Eddy Merckx.
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