CAVENDISH TALKS TO CYCLING WEEKLY AFTER QUITTING THE TOUR DE FRANCE

Mark Cavendish

Mark Cavendish watched Sunday?s stage to Prato Nevoso from the Columbia team car, following the action all the way to the finish in the Italian ski resort.

His Tour de France is over after he decided not to start Sunday?s 15th stage but he can go home immensely proud of what he has achieved in the last two weeks.

Few riders have won four stages in the same Tour de France and even fewer have done it as such a young age. Cavendish is now the fastest sprinter in the world and even his rivals admit they have little chance of beating him when he is on form.

Cavendish admitted he was very tired after 14 days at the Tour de France. He has now done a total of 70 days of racing so far this season, including finishing the Giro d?Italia, and has won eleven races, including six stages in major Tours.

"THE BEST THING TO DO WAS STOP"

Cavendish knew it was time to head after being dropped on the short climb before the finish in Digne-les-Bains.

?When I crossed the line at the finish I knew I didn?t have much more in me and when I saw I was out of contention for the green jersey I realised the best thing to do was stop before I do myself any more damage,? Cavendish told Cycling Weekly before heading down the mountain and eventually home to the Isle of Man for a few days of rest and recovery.

?I was really tired in the last few days, even when I won, but I kept it going and as long as I could results I was going to stay.

Cavendish decided to retire after speaking at length with Columbia directeur sportif Brian Holm and his personal coach and mentor Rod Ellingworth of British Cycling.

"I spoke to Rod every day and he agreed it is the best thing to do," Cavendish said.

?We had a plan: I wanted to finish the Giro and see how far I could do in the Tour de France. We?ve done that, so it?s perfect. Now I?ll go home and begin to prepare for the Olympics.?

REST AND RECOVERY

Cavendish will spend several days at home in the Isle of Man, mixing rest and recovery with light training. It has still to be decided if he rides the Tour of Denmark in early August but will ride a few selected criterium, including one in Herentals, Belgium where he will face sprint rivals Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Daniele Bennati (Liquigas).

He is scheduled to meet up with Rod Ellingworth and the Great Britain team in Newport for final track training on August 4. He will do specific speed work for the Madison and then fly out to Beijing to team up with Bradley Wiggins for the Madison on Tuesday August 19.

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: STAGE REPORTS

Stage 15: Schleck takes lead in the Alps

Stage 14: Oscar Freire wins in Digne-les-Bains

Stage 13: Cavendish takes fourth win

Stage 12: Cavendish makes it three

Stage 11: Arvesen wins

Stage 10: Evans takes yellow jersey by one second

Stage nine: Ricco wins in the Pyrenees

Stage eight: Cavendish wins again in Toulouse

Stage seven: Sanchez takes action-packed stage

Stage six: Ricco storms to win

Stage five: Cavendish takes first Tour win

Stage four: Schumacher wins TT and takes race lead

Stage three: Dumoulin wins stage from break

Stage two: Hushovd wins chaotic sprint

Stage one: Valverde wins

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: NEWS

Comment: Why Cav is right to go home today

Cavendish pulls out of the Tour

Barloworld to end cycling sponsorship

Ricco speaks on Italian television

Cavendish joins the all-time greats

Saunier Duval sack Ricco and Piepoli

Tour bosses say fight against doping continues

Ricco denies doping at the Tour

Saunier Duval pull out of Tour

Tour's top ten changes

Ricco positive for EPO at Tour

Analysis: Tour de France rest day summary

Cavendish battles through Pyrenees

Evans suffers but takes yellow jersey [stage 10]

Analysis: Hautacam shakes up 2008 Tour

Ricco silences critics with solo attack in Pyrenees [stage nine]

Cavendish talks about his second stage win [stage eight]

Beltran heads home but doubts remain about other Tour riders

David Millar: the dope controls are working

Manuel Beltran tests positive for EPO at the Tour

Comment: How the Tour rediscovered its spirit

Doping back in Tour de France headlines

Millar: close but no cigar in Super-Besse [stage six]

Super-Besse shows form of main contenders [stage six]

Millar to go for yellow [stage six]

Team Columbia's reaction to Cavendish's win [stage five]

Cavendish talks about his Tour stage win

Tour comment: Why Evans should be happy [stage four]

Millar: Still aiming for Tour yellow jersey [stage 4]

Who is Romain Feillu?

Cavendish disappointed with stage two result

Millar too close to Tour yellow jersey

Stage 2 preview: A sprint finish for Cavendish?

Millar happy after gains precious seconds in Plumelec

Valverde delighted with opening Tour stage win

Comment: Is Valverde's win a good thing for the Tour?

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: PHOTOS

Stage 13

Stage 12

Stage 11

Stage 11

Stage 10

Stage nine

Stage eight

Stage seven

Stage six

Stage five

Stage four

Stage three

Stage two

Stage one

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: BLOGS

Life at the Tour part five

Life at the Tour part four

Life at the Tour part three

Life at the Tour part two

Life at the Tour part one

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: GUIDE

Tour de France 2008 homepage>>

News and features>>

All the riders (start list, list of abandons)>>

Day by day summary>>

Route & stages>>

Teams and riders>>

About the Tour>>

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Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.