HTC-Columbia sprinter Mark Cavendish has run the gamut of emotions in his fourth Tour de France, and today, set another standard when he became the first rider in history to win on the majestic Champs-Elysées in two consecutive years. His victory today topped off an incredible total of five stage wins in the 2010 event. Last year Cavendish did one better by taking home six stages, but it's likely this year's haul meant quite a bit more to the Manxman.
The 25 year old had a storybook year in 2009 having only been beaten twice. First by Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) in Tirreno-Adriatico, and then by Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) at the Giro d'Italia. His 2010 started off badly when he returned from holiday in South America and had to undergo surgery on a tooth. The health issue impacted his start to the season more seriously than was expected, and it gave Cavendish a rough ride all the way through season and into the Tour de France.
"My Tour didn't start too well and in the first week I was wondering how it would turn out," Cavendish said. "But the team rode incredibly strongly for me and I tried to make amends. As the race progressed my feelings got better and better and winning here in Paris on the most spectacular finish of them all is a great way to end the race. When you win you get confident, when you're confident you win. It's as simple as that."
Cavendish now has an amazing fifteen Tour de France stage wins in just three editions, and his total in cycling's biggest event has now surpassed his mentor Erik Zabel, sprint king Mario Cipollini and evergreen Robbie McEwen (Katusha).
While the Manx Missile was unable to achieve his goal of winning the green jersey, he was second in the competition to Petacchi. The first two sprint stages were where Cavendish faltered, but he was able to put the past behind him and once again demonstrate his superiority.
"[HTC-Columbia teammate] Bernie Eisel took me to the tunnel and then Tony Martin dropped me off where I needed to be to go for the win. It's been a real rollercoaster event, but the people here in France always make it special and I want to thank all of them, the team and support staff and all the other people who have helped me all the way."
His team was short two leadout men for stage twenty because Adam Hansen left the race early with injury, and leadout ace Mark Renshaw was ejected from the Tour following a controversial stage eleven finish. With his win today Cavendish showed his ability to fend for himself in the final meters, and punctuated his fifth stage win with a massive gap to second-placed Petacchi.