Cavendish reveals he won Turkey stage two with a flat tyre
Mark Cavendish says he felt his tyre going flat with around five kilometres to go at the Tour of Turkey but carried on to win the stage regardless
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Mark Cavendish reveals he sprinted to victory on stage two at the Tour of Turkey with a flat tyre, having felt the puncture about five kilometres out.
The Manxman held off Lampre-Merida’s Sacha Modolo on the line in Antalya for his second win in as many stages to retain the leader’s jersey.
Cavendish admits he thought about stopping for a new wheel, but with the battle for position in the final few kilometres he worried he would leave his Etixx-Quick-Step team in trouble.
"At a corner with about five kilometers to go my wheel went from me and I thought to myself 'that's not good' as I lost my balance," Cavendish said.
"The wheel was spongy. It wasn't totally flat but it was a slow leaking puncture. I thought about stopping to get a new wheel, but we were already on our third guy of the train.
“If I stopped, we were one man short for Mark Renshaw. So I thought I'd give it a crack. I went easy for the final corners. I had confidence in my teammates. If they kept me in the front on the corners I'd be okay, and they did just that.”
>>> Mark Cavendish confirms race build-up to the Tour de France
One of Cavendish’s lead-out men in Turkey is Tom Boonen, who is getting himself back to full fitness after separating his shoulder at Paris-Nice.
But the Belgian admits he’s not necessarily the best man to have in the train, with his raw power sometimes seeing him pushing the pace too hard.
“It's my job to bring in contention Renshaw and Cavendish,” he said. “Sometimes they call I have to go a bit slower, but that's normal. I'm actually too explosive for this work.”
Tuesday’s mountain stage means Cavendish will have to work hard to hold on to his leader’s jersey for a third day, but the Etixx man will have a few more opportunities for stage wins as the eight-stage race progresses.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
Pfeiffer Georgi wins Brugge-De Panne solo after aggressive race splits in crosswinds
Brit claims her first WorldTour win by out-foxing some of the fastest riders in the world
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
Kaden Groves sprints to victory on stage four of the Volta a Catalunya
Australian takes first win for new Alpecin-Deceuninck team ahead of Bryan Coquard
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish's Astana team refutes claim it breached sunglasses contract
Team says it "fully respected" its sponsorship deal with sunglasses supplier Scicon
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Mark Cavendish buys second guard dog for £20,000 after knife point raid
Peta Cavendish said family home had become a reminder of "threat and fear" after home invasion robbery in 2021
By Adam Becket • Published
-
In photos: Mark Cavendish through the years, all his teams and kits
18 years, six teams, 161 wins. Will 2023 be a last hurrah for the British champion?
By Adam Becket • Published
-
CW Live: Mark Cavendish to start season at Oman; Giro wildcards unveiled; UCI updates Covid rules; Amsterdam builds underwater garage for 7,000 bikes; Cavendish family 'terrorised' by robbery; and LTNs do not push traffic onto boundary roads
All the news you need in the world of cycling this Thursday. It's cold!
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
Last chance saloon: Why has Mark Cavendish ended up at Astana? And will it work?
The British champion has joined the sixth different team of his professional career in the hunt for one more Tour de France stage win
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish signs for Astana-Qazaqstan and will remain on the WorldTour for 2023
The transfer saga is over, Mark Cavendish has officially found a team, and will chase the Tour de France stage win record
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
CW LIVE: Mark Cavendish threatened with knife in home robbery; Israel-Premier Tech and Uno-X receive wildcard invites to the Tour de France; Sonny Colbrelli looking to enter politics and concerns raised over Van Aert and Van der Poel appearance fees
All the latest news from the world of cycling
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
CW Live: Van der Poel and Pieterse win Herentals CX; Mark Cavendish still not at Astana; Lizzie Deignan awarded MBE; 1.7% of bike theft cases result in a charge; Egan Bernal targets Tour de France return?
Happy new year from Cycling Weekly, here's everything you need to know this Tuesday
By Adam Becket • Last updated