Tour de France - Groenewegen wins in Dijon - Merckx congratulates Cavendish
Mark Cavendish took a short break after his record-breaking feat, but instead, Dylan Groenewegen took the win on the sixth stage of the 111th Tour de France. The Dutch rider, who was suspended for rough riding four years ago, stormed to victory in the photo finish, beating Jasper Philipsen and Biniam Girmay.
German sprinter Phil Bauhaus finished fifth and recorded his best result of the year. "I'm very happy. My legs weren't that good. I gave my best. I have to be satisfied," Bauhaus said. His German teammate Pascal Ackermann finished tenth.
Cavendish played no role this time around, after securing his 35th Tour stage win and surpassing legend Eddy Merckx (34) on the previous day. Merckx, from afar, couldn't help but congratulate his successor in the record books. "What a great guy, who broke my record," the 79-year-old wrote on Instagram.
But the biggest winner was Groenewegen, who took his sixth Tour stage win. "It feels so good, and even in the Dutch national champion's jersey. I had the right moment. I didn't know if it was enough," Groenewegen said, who was suspended for nine months after pushing Fabio Jakobsen into the barriers at the Poland Tour.
Pogacar keeps yellow after close call
Radstar Tadej Pogacar wears the yellow jersey still, with the main peloton reaching the finish line a day before the first time trial. Pogacar remains 45 seconds ahead of Belgian time trial world champion Remco Evenepoel, while title defender Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark trails by 50 seconds.
However, the day was not stress-free for Pogacar. When the peloton split after a windy attack 80 kilometers from the finish, Pogacar was suddenly left without teammates. Cavendish was also dropped at the time due to a technical issue, but the problem was resolved ten kilometers later.
"Mark Cavendish - the Cannibal"
The hot topic on Thursday was Cavendish's record-breaking win. "Mark Cavendish - the Cannibal," titled the Tour organ "L'Equipe" in reference to Merckx's nickname and wrote further: "The homage of a king." The Briton completed his transformation "from Hooligan to Monk," from the hated driver to the peaceful family man.
The recognition from fellow riders was equally impressive, with many of them having been children when Cavendish made his Tour debut in 2007. "He told me not to take the record away from him too quickly. But I don't think I can do that. It's an incredible win," said Pogacar, who celebrated his twelfth stage win on the steep climb of the Col de Galibier on Tuesday.
"If there's anyone who deserves this record, it's him," said Evenepoel, a fellow Belgian and Merckx's successor. Wout van Aert was also impressed. "I watched him on TV when I was still an amateur. I have great respect for him. He's a great champion," said the nine-time Tour stage winner from Belgium.
Cavendish moved by the gesture
Words that touched Cavendish: "That makes me very emotional. We have an incredible group of road professionals in 2024. That's the future of our sport. I'm proud to be a part of it."
On Friday, he will have to yield the stage to the stars of the industry once again, when the next power showdown comes in the first Individual Time Trial. There are 25.3 kilometers to cover between Nuits-Saint-Georges, where Marcel Kittel triumphed in the sprint in 2017, and Gevrey-Chambertin. The course is completely flat, except for a small incline in the middle.
- Groenewegen's victory on the sixth stage made him join Mark Cavendish in the UCI WorldTour's record book with six stage wins in the Tour de France.
- Despite taking a time out, Cavendish's record-breaking 35th Tour stage victory still left an impact on the international cycling scene, with fellow riders praising his achievements.
- The stage victory in France marked Canibal Cavendish's return to form after facing some challenges, cementing his place in the record books alongside cycling icons like Eddy Merckx.
- After his win at Milan-San Remo earlier in the year, Remco Evenepoel continues to shine on the UCI WorldTour, trailing second-place Tadej Pogacar by 45 seconds and challenging for the Yellow Jersey in the Tour de France.
- While the Dutch rider Dylan Groenewegen celebrated his stage victory with fans in Dijon, French cycling legend Eddy Merckx took to Instagram to offer his congratulations, acknowledging Cavendish's remarkable achievement.
- Jasper Philipsen and Phil Bauhaus also remained competitive, with Philipsen finishing second and Bauhaus fifth, respectively, in the six-stage race, setting their sights on future success.
- Tadej Pogacar, the current Tour de France Yellow Jersey holder, faced some challenges during the race but managed to maintain his lead, with his closest competitor Remco Evenepoel hot on his heels.
- Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel recognizes Cavendish's dedication and work ethic, noting that he deserves his place in the record books and expressing his respect for the British cyclist.
- Cavendish's performance has inspired a new generation of cyclists, with Wout van Aert from Belgium admiring his career and citing him as a great champion, further cementing his legacy in the world of cycling.
