'No plan B' if Sam Bennett can't ride Tour de France, says Patrick Lefevere, with Cavendish still needing to be convinced
The Deceuninck - Quick-Step team boss says Mark Cavendish told him he won't ride a Grand Tour on his current salary

Patrick Lefevere says Deceuninck - Quick-Step currently has "no real plan B" for a sprinting option if Sam Bennett can't make it to the upcoming Tour de France.
The Irishman and 2020 green jersey winner is currently struggling with injury, an inflammation to a tendon in his knee, Mark Cavendish drafted in at the last minute to replace him at the Belgium Tour where the Manxman won the final stage against top-level competition to give Tour selectors food for thought.
A decision on Bennett's condition will be made this week, but Mark Cavendish has remained coy on the chance he will be on the start line in Brest.
"I don’t know. At the end of the day, it’s all talk," Cavendish said after his win in Belgium, back to his bullish best on the bike and in the mixed zone. "The reason the whole Tour de France thing came up - I didn’t mention it and Patrick didn’t mention it - I won in the Tour of Turkey and all of a sudden the media started talking about it."
In his weekly column in Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, crucially written before Cavendish's win, Lefevere said he'd already spoken to Cavendish about the Tour, and that the Manxman told him he wouldn't ride a Grand Tour on his current salary.
"I understand his point of view. Mark joined our team at 35 years of age and at the last minute. At that time, the Tour was out of the question. He signed a minimum contract because we had minimal expectations," Lefevere explained, before setting out his stall for how he thinks the situation could be rectified: “Extend Cavendish for the Tour, on better conditions. With the level he has now, he wants to continue for at least another year.
"Mark still has his speed. But I understand that he is not waiting for a Tour de France. For him, that means riding under pressure, under the magnifying glass of the media. If he even comes close to a win, everyone starts talking about Eddy Merckx's record. He has won 34 stages in the Tour, Mark is now at thirty.”
It would make sense for both parties to renew after Cavendish's rejuvenation in 2021, but the type and size of deal will surely rest on whether Bennett can make it to the Tour.
“There is no real plan B as a sprinter. The problem is that [Bennett] suffers from inflammation of the patella tendon and these are persistent injuries. We've been through it before with Tom Boonen, Zdenek Štybar and Andrea Bagioli, all of whom even had surgery," Lefevere said. "Will Sam make the Tour? At the moment we don't know. He has to rest until at least Monday."
Cavendish also had words for the media about the Merckx record: "The thing with Eddy Merckx record? I never started that, it was the media that started that, and all of a sudden, it’s like, I’m going for it.
"It’s the same with this. It’s you guys [the media] that started whether or not I should go to the Tour de France."
One thing, at least, is for sure: Cav is back.
Thank you for reading 5 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
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Who's out of the Giro d'Italia 2022 by stage 16? Dumoulin, López and Bardet among those to abandon
The latest retirements from this year's race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
João Almeida biding his time at the Giro d'Italia: 'Always keep in mind the next days'
The UAE Team Emirates rider is hoping to secure a podium finish as he expects the final day's time trial to be decisive
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Odd one out: Why was Mark Cavendish in the early break on Giro d'Italia queen stage?
It really is not a day for the fast men in the Alps
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish wants to continue for 'at least' two more years
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sprinter turns 37 this weekend
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'In the end, what can you do?' — Mark Cavendish misses out on Giro d'Italia stage five sprint
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sprinter distanced by peloton on climb
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Hungarian village set to honour Mark Cavendish by naming bus stop after him
Cavendish changed his bike in front of the bus stop in question, which the village of Zámoly is planning to name after the rider
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Mark Cavendish: I’ve never been the strongest or the fastest but I win
Cavendish praises team as he makes a winning return to the Giro d'Italia
By Richard Windsor • Published
-
Mark Cavendish says stories about a rivalry with Fabio Jakobsen are 'lazy'
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sprinter says that friction between him and Dutch teammate is the last thing he wants
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Chris Froome: Being competitive at Tour de France would be a 'dream scenario'
The Israel-Premier Tech rider on being back at his normal level, appreciating his past, and aiming to have form late into the season
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tom Pidcock: 'Of course I want to try to win the Tour de France'
After signing new contract with Ineos Grenadiers, British rider says he can lead wave of young riders at team
By Adam Becket • Published