Sir Mark Cavendish has claimed a record breaking, history making, 35th Tour de France stage win.
Cav snatched victory in a sprint finish on today’s fifth stage from Saint Jean De Maurienne to Saint Vulbas.
His Astana Qazaqstan moved towards the front of the peloton around 40KM from the finish, with Cav always lurking behind his ride out men as the race wound its way towards a conclusion.
As the pace quickened into the final 15KM, Astana battled to keep a path for Cav as other teams spread out in the final 10KM before his team regrouped to seek a path through the crowd.
In the final moments as the race entered its final sprint finish, Cav rolled back the years to move to the left hand side of the road as he beat his rival in a straight sprint finish which was celebrated by his fellow racers almost as much as the man himself.
Cav, knighted in the King’s birthday honours just before the start of Le Tour, who hit the front and held off his younger rivals to break Eddy Merckx’s record which he equalled in 2021, ensured the title the Manx Missile will forever echo down the ages.
Sir Mark, 39, delayed retirement to seek one last bid at rewriting the history books after being forced out of last year’s Tour with an injury.
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