Mark Cavendish backed for 'Project 36' - and maybe even more - after incredible record Tour de France win

Watch out, Tour de France sprinters. Mark Cavendish may have claimed a record-breaking 35th stage win on Wednesday, but that doesn't mean he will take it easy now. Eurosport experts Adam Blythe and Robbie McEwen are convinced the 39-year-old can add to his haul in the final two and a half weeks of the race, with his next opportunity coming on Thursday's pan-flat Stage 6 to Dijon.

Mark Cavendish celebrates his historic win

Image credit: Getty Images

Just moments after winning a record-breaking 35th stage at the Tour de France, Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) was backed to add up to four more to his haul.

Cavendish powered to a brilliant victory on Wednesday to move clear of Belgian icon Eddy Merckx in the all-time rankings as he more than justified his retirement U-turn and Astana's decision to build a team around him.

After his team-mates had guided him into the finale, Cavendish evoked memories of old with a typically instinctive sprint, hopping between the wheels of his rivals before charging to a comfortable victory.

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Such was the manner of his win that Eurosport experts Robbie McEwen and Adam Blythe were quick to hype 'Project 36'.

"It's such a huge part of history," Blythe said on The Breakaway. "And this history is going to keep growing. I said the other day, when Cav gets one, he can probably get two or three."

"Or six," chimed in Robbie McEwen.

Blythe backs Cavendish to win 'two, three, four' more stages at Tour after No. 35

Video credit: TNT Sports

Blythe continued: "Without a shadow of a doubt, he's the GOAT. He's the greatest of all time. Tour de France wins, sprinters... He's just an idol to everyone, he's fantastic.

"It's old Cav. The last couple of years, it's been that worrying Cav. But when you see that, people need to be worried about Cav for the rest of this Tour because when he's sprinting like that, he will get two, three, four more wins - with the way he sprinted today, with ease as well."

'One of the greatest moments in sporting history'

Host Orla Chennaoui compared Cavendish's comeback to greats Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Muhammad Ali, labelling his record win "one of the greatest moments in sporting history".

"There was a time when he almost couldn't lose. A period of six years in a row when he won at the Tour de France - 25 stages in total between 2008 and 2013," she said.

"But then, after four stages in 2016, he suffered Epstein-Barr virus. He suffered depression. The critics said his career was over. He came back in 2021, he won the green jersey and equalled Eddy Merckx's record of 34 stage wins. If he stopped there, we would have hailed him as a legend."

Cavendish's record-breaking win 'one of the greatest moments in sporting history'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Cavendish's win came just four days after he battled sickness on the opening stage in Italy.

"Four days ago, vomiting on himself. And then today he is the king of stage wins in the Tour de France," said 12-time stage winner McEwen, who called it "vintage Cavendish".

Blythe added: "He's got the record. It could be 36. It could be 37. It could even be 38. We just don't know.

"We also have to remember who he has beaten. Eddy Merckx, the greatest of all time. Sir Mark Cavendish has gone above that!

"He is a living legend and one that we get to witness at the top of his game so late on. We don't get to witness many greats in sport being the best near the end of their careers. It's a real pleasure."

Cavendish now boasts an astonishing 165 wins across his 19 years as a professional and has the opportunity to add to that tally on Thursday's pan-flat Stage 6.

'Greatness sees great' - Pogacar congratulates Cavendish after record win

Video credit: TNT Sports

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