Mark Cavendish moves to Omega Pharma-Quick-Step in 2013 after only one year on his three-year contract with Team Sky. The move was instigated after a lack of support from the British team who made clear to Cavendish that its ambitions lies in the general classification of Grand Tours.
The 27 year old, who unsuccessfully defended the green jersey at the Tour this year, told BBC Radio Five Live he is fully focused on next year’s race and winning the final stage on the Champs-Élysées for the fifth time in a row.
"The 100th edition of the Tour de France has to incorporate everything, which means lots of mountains, but it's a beautiful route," Cavendish said.
"There is a sprint on the first stage which gives me a chance of winning the yellow jersey. The final sprint on the Champs-Élysées will be under lights.
"I've won in Paris the last four years and I want to make that five. My team Omega Pharma-Quick-Step are going all out [to win the green sprinters jersey] in 2013."
The race will start in Corsica and a bunch sprint is expected on stage one to give the sprinters a chance to wear the yellow jersey. Yesterday Cavendish’s sprint rival, Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol), said it might not be as cut and dry. Greipel says he has raced the Critérium International which also takes place in Corsica and is almost sure the wind and narrow roads will make things difficult.
Cavendish is known as the fastest man in the world and this year won fifteen races, including his first ever general classification success in Ster Elektrotoer. With more committed support next season, he’ll hope to ramp that win rate up again.