Tour de France 2024: Eddy Merckx pays tribute to history-making Mark Cavendish - 'Such a nice guy to break my record'
Updated 04/07/2024 at 13:41 GMT+1
Eddy Merckx paid tribute to “nice guy” Mark Cavendish after the ‘Manx Missile’ moved clear of the Belgian for stage wins at the Tour de France. The pair were tied on 34 until the Brit outsprinted his rivals to win stage 5 on his 15th appearance in the sport’s most iconic race. Cavendish will now have the chance to extend his record over the remainder of what is expected to be his final Tour.
Stage 5 Highlights: Cavendish makes history with thrilling sprint win
Video credit: TNT Sports
Eddy Merckx has reacted after seeing the record he shared with Mark Cavendish for Tour de France stage wins finally broken by the ‘Manx Missile’.
The pair were tied on 34 before Cavendish romped to victory to cross the line first at the end of stage 5, sparking wild scenes of celebration befitting the magnitude of the moment.
It was the end of a long pursuit that began in 2008 when Cavendish won his first stage in the sport’s greatest race and one that looked set to end in heartbreak when he broke his collarbone last year in what he had previously said would be his final Tour.
However, he returned for one last shot at glory and proved any doubters wrong to stand alone, ahead of Merckx, as the greatest stage winner in the history of the iconic race.
Tributes poured in from team-mates past and present and various other prominent figures within cycling, but few messages will carry as much weight as Merckx’s.
The 79-year-old wrote on his Instagram story: “Congratulations Mark Cavendish for this historical achievement! Such a nice guy to break my record @letourdefrance.”
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Cavendish's record-breaking win 'one of the greatest moments in sporting history'
Video credit: TNT Sports
While Cavendish has now eclipsed Merckx for stage wins, the Belgian will forever be remembered as a legend of the sport.
Merckx was more of an all-rounder and boasts victories across a greater variety of stages and also shares the record for most general classification wins with five.
Cavendish was keen to stress afterwards that his achievement wouldn’t detract from Merckx’s legacy as he came to grips with what he had just done.
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There were concerns he would not even make it past the first stage of the 2024 Tour when he was seen vomiting repeatedly on the gruelling opener.
He was then thwarted by a crash on stage 3 moments before the sprint finish but he showed all his guile to power to victory on stage 5, timing his attack perfectly to see off his nearest challengers.
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Cavendish in a 'little bit of disbelief' after claiming Tour de France record
Video credit: TNT Sports
“I just wanted to get the run-in to do it I guess. I’m in a little bit of disbelief,” Cavendish told Eurosport.
And now that the monkey is off his back, it sets up the prospect that the Manxman could extend his record before he finally closes the book on what has been a career for the ages.
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