Tour de France - Sole record: Sprint star Cavendish takes 35th Tour victory
King Mark Cavendish officially surpassed the legend Eddy Merckx in the 111th Tour de France and was crowned the sole record holder with his 35th stage win. On the fifth stage, "King Cav" stormed to victory and showed his full class at the age of 39.
As expected, there was no change at the top of the General Classification. Tadej Pogacar, who wore the Yellow Jersey after his climbing display the previous day, continued to lead with a 45-second advantage over Belgian Remco Evenepoel and a 50-second lead over title defender Jonas Vingegaard.
The sprinters will be in action again on Thursday. The pros will cover 163.5 kilometers from Macon to Dijon on the sixth stage. This flat stage offers few major obstacles. In the end, a mass sprint was required on the final 800 meters before the finish.
- Mark Cavendish's record-breaking performance in the UCI WorldTour further solidified his international reputation as a cycling legend.
- The Auvergne region of France witnessed history being made as Cavendish claimed his 35th Tour de France stage victory, surpassing Eddy Merckx's long-standing record.
- The Sprint Nextel sector of the race was where Cavendish showed his prowess, securing his stage victory and breaking Merckx's record in style.
- Cavendish's Tour de France victory in 2021, his seventh overall, was made even more significant by breaking Merckx's record and cementing his place as one of the sport's all-time greats.
- Despite not making a significant impact on the General Classification, the presence of sprinters like Cavendish adds excitement to the UCI WorldTour and the Tour de France, drawing large crowds and spectator interest.
- With pedigree cyclists like Cavendish consistently competing in the Tour de France, the race continues to maintain its status as the premier event in the world of cycling.
