Mark Cavendish recognises advantage in missed Tour chances ahead of Olympics
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

World champion sprinter Mark Cavendish sees a silver lining in his missed chances at the Tour de France and ahead of the London Olympic Games road race - a week from today.
Cavendish celebrated an emphatic victory at the end of stage 18 of the Tour yesterday bringing his career tally to 22 and equalling Andre Darrigade and Lance Armstrong on the all-time stage win list at fourth.
The 27-year-old has been left to his own devices in sprint stages at the 99th edition of the race this season with his new Sky team solely dedicated to the general classification ambitions of yellow jersey leader, Bradley Wiggins.
Sky's determination to see Wiggins in yellow and realise one of its founding objectives has reduced Cavendish's opportunities to contest stage wins at the Tour. It's been an adjustment for the Manxman and a contrast to previous seasons where he has had a full team dedicated to his ambitions.
Australian Michael Rogers had Sky's overall goal in mind when made the difficult call in stage 15, considered a flat race for the sprinters, to let a break go instead of reeling it in and setting-up Cavendish for a potential win.
The Olympic Games gold medal hopeful Cavendish will have the full support of Team GB, including Wiggins, at the 250km London 2012 road race on July 28.
Cavendish already has more race days under his belt than other Olympic rivals after completing the Giro d'Italia in May, which most sprinters abandoned after the second week.
The more limited opportunities at the Tour this year may have been disheartening for the prolific stage winner, who is supportive of Sky's aim, but could too work to his advantage in a week's time.
"In hindsight it might have been good not to go for sprints," Cavendish told Cycling Weekly the night before his second stage win of the Tour.
He as an example referred to stage 13, which Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) won after clearing a category three climb in the final 20km.
"Some of the days, like the stage Greipel won down in the south of France, if I was going full-out for sprints, with a sprint team, I would have gone deep to get over that climb and that would take energy. It could be a blessing."
Cavendish pleaded for the opportunity to race for line honours yesterday and got it with Wiggins and Edvald Boasson Hagen doing their bit to support him within the final 2km.
Wiggins will look to sew-up the yellow jersey in today's penultimate time trial stage with Sky set to try and help deliver Cavendish to a fourth consecutive stage win on the Champs-Élysées tomorrow.
"I know that finish really, really well," he said.
"The year when me and (Mark) Renshaw were distanced with the rest of the peloton (finishing one and two in 2009), they've widened that entrance now so it's not really a sharp corner, it's almost a straight line.
"It's an amazing feeling," he continued.
"You hit the tunnel, you come down, you go through the tunnel, you go out the other side and you just hear noise. That's all you hear the whole way around, just noise. You come out and it gives you goose-bumps."
Cavendish is yet to finalise his race program after the Olympics.
Twitter: @SophieSmith86
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
Sophie Smith is an Australian journalist, television reporter and presenter, who has provided coverage for Cycling Weekly from races across the world. She has covered eight Tours de France, as well as reporting for national and international newspapers as well as other magazines.
Follow Sophie Smith on Twitter and Instagram:
Instagram: sophiesmith86
Twitter: @SophieSmith86
-
-
Vuelta a España 2022 start list: All the riders expected to line up at the Spanish Grand Tour
Three-time winner Primož Roglič and recent Giro d'Italia victor Jai Hindley are both expected to start the 77th edition of the race
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
How to watch Vuelta a España 2022: Live stream the 77th Spanish Grand Tour
Here's how to catch all of the action of the Vuelta a España this August and September on TV and online
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Mark Cavendish withdraws from Tour de Pologne to focus on Commonwealth Games
British National Champion due to compete in the road race on Sunday for the Isle of Man
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'He's going to win some big bike races' - Tom Pidcock hails Sam Watson as he turns pro with Groupama-FDJ
U23 British National champion has impressed his French team and more besides
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘I know I’ll win again’: Mark Cavendish confident of returning to victory at future Tour de France
Cavendish says he has no plans to retire after missing out on this year’s race
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Jasper Philipsen: Mark Cavendish not being here played a role in Tour de France stage win
Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter ends long wait for win at "highest level possible"
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish expected to leave Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl at end of the year
‘I know that he wants to do two more years in the bunch... but he's not part of our project’ - Patrick Lefevere on Cavendish’s future with the Belgian team
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
No Mark Cavendish or Julian Alaphilippe at Tour de France for Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl
Fabio Jakobsen selected as team's sprinter for the race which begins on Friday in Copenhagen
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Julian Alaphilippe expected to miss the Tour de France
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl set to leave out the two-time world champion
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Mark Cavendish sprints to his second British National Road title
The Manx missile put in a stellar performance in Scotland to secure the second National road title of his illustrious career
By Pete Trifunovic • Published