Cav’s hopes blown away
RECORD BID PUT ON HOLD
MARK CAVENDISH’S bid to equal Eddy Merckx’s all-time record of 34 Tour de France stage wins was gone with the wind.
The Manxman, who has sprinted out of his skin to win three stages already this year, was forced to wait for his chance to match the Belgian legend after being made to race out of his favourite skinsuit.
As a 13-man breakaway held sway, and Germany’s Nils Politt took the honours on the 99-mile transfer from SaintPaul-Trois-Chateaux to Nimes, the peloton stayed on cruise control in the crosswinds.
With the famous Mistral gusting, Cavendish, right, probably feared it was not going to be his day when race organisers failed to deliver the green skinsuit he favours, forcing him to ride in a less aerodynamic jersey.
Suits you, Cav? Not this time. But after Wednesday’s two monster climbs of Mont Ventoux, the beast of Provence, he was inclined to count his blessings more than missed chances.
He might get another chance to draw level with Merckx in today’s 136-mile long haul to Carcassonne, which looks flat enough by profile.
But the citadel has yet to host a bunch sprint finish in its long Tour history and, with more crosswinds forecast in south-western France, Cavendish will need his Deceuninck-QuickStep train to rein in any breakaways.
If another chance goes begging today, any remaining windows of opportunity to overhaul Merckx would be subject to him surviving a week in the Pyrenees before another likely sprint finish in Libourne next Friday and the traditional finale in Paris.
Cavendish, who moved on to 33 stage wins with his third win in eight days on Tuesday in Valence, salvaged a crumb of comfort by leading the main group into Nimes, some 16 minutes behind Politt, padding his advantage in the green jersey by three points.
“I think most guys were grateful to be fair,” he said. “But it’s still heavy roads around Provence, you stick to the tarmac.
“Tomorrow will be similar roads, just 60km longer. I reckon we’ll get cooked up before we hit the Pyrenees.”
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar, who looks invincible in the overall leader’s Yellow Jersey, remains 5mins 18secs ahead of nearest challenger Rigoberto Uran.