Mark Cavendish began this yr’s Tour de France dreaming of changing into its prolific stage winner.
Key factors:
- Mark Cavendish crashed out with a suspected shoulder damage
- Cavendish ends his Tour de France profession with 34 stage wins, equal with all time nice Eddy Merckx
- Cavendish is a two-time inexperienced jersey winner on the Tour
He ended it mid-way via stage eight in an ambulance, his race and Tour de France profession over.
The 38-year-old rider from the Isle of Man was already the best sprinter in Tour de France historical past.
No different rider has come near his 34 wins in bunch-sprints — the bear-pit {of professional} biking the place none however the bravest of riders can afford to combine it in shut confines at speeds in extra of 70 kilometres per hour.
Lengthy-retired Frenchmen André Darrigade and André Leducq are closest to matching him with 22 every.
In addition to successful the inexperienced factors jersey twice, Cavendish has received the long-lasting closing stage on the Champs-Élysées a report 4 instances — no different rider has received that the majority well-known of levels greater than twice.
His 4 wins in a row within the Tour’s closing stage was highlighted by successful on the earth champions rainbow jersey, having been led out for the win by yellow jersey winner and long-time buddy Bradley Wiggins in 2012.
Cavendish, in the meantime, has received 34 stage wins between 2008 and 2021, equalling the report of biking’s best ever rider, Eddy Merckx.
He wanted only one extra win to face alone.
That win virtually got here on stage seven, when a mechanical subject meant he couldn’t totally decide to his dash when bursting into the end at Marseille.
As an alternative, Jasper Philipsen breezed previous the British star to say a third-straight dash win.
“I might have beloved to see him win, like all people,” Philipsen mentioned after that win.
“For certain he’ll hold making an attempt.”
Sadly for Cavendish, his likelihood to interrupt the report won’t ever come.
The top, when it got here, was innocuous.
A contact of wheels in the direction of the center of the peloton making a ripple impact that noticed Cavendish hit the deck, instantly grabbing at his helmet and shoulder.
He knew his Tour profession was over, you solely wanted to take a look at the devastation on his face.
Cavendish introduced that he’ll retire on the finish of this season, that means this 14th and closing Tour de France was his final likelihood to interrupt a report that has stood since 1975.
Danish rider Mads Pedersen received a livid uphill dash to say the eighth stage, edging Philipsen and Wout van Aert.
“For me it was a pleasure to have the ability to race with Mark,” Pedersen mentioned on the finish of the stage.
“It is so unhappy that such a legend has to complete the Tour like this.”
Jonas Vingegaard completed within the pack and stays within the yellow jersey forward of Tadej Pogačar.
“It is an actual disgrace [Cavendish is out],” Pogačar mentioned.
“I feel everybody needs to see him go for another win. He mentioned that it was his closing yr, however perhaps not?”
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