Hoban salutes Cavendish's Tour stage win achievement

Barry Hoban

Within seconds of Mark Cavendish equalling Barry Hoban’s British record of eight stage wins in the Tour last Wednesday, the phones were ringing on Hoban’s desk at Yellow Ltd, the Staffordshire-based cycle clothing company.

“All the phones here are going berserk, they are all trying to tell me something,” joked Hoban when he answered Cycling Weekly’s call.

We had to ring the man who has held the British record all these years.

“Cav is amazingly fast. I’ve never known anyone as fast as him,” said Hoban, a pro from 1964 to 1980. “The only way anyone is ever going to beat him is jump him before, but unfortunately how do you jump him before when they’re going at 45mph?

“Cav’s great. I was talking to someone the other day and he’s saying, at last, at long last, we’ve actually got cycling in the news on radio and television.

“I’ve always said that when we had no one representing Britain, doing anything, we won’t get coverage.

“But now we’ve got Brad Wiggins in fifth overall and you’ve got Cav winning all the sprints.

“It’s continued from the Olympics. So it will be a snowball effect for cycling now. We’re finding in the commercial side of good quality cycle stuff, it’s manic.

“We’re running out of stock right, left and centre. We’ve ordered 25-30 per cent more stock this year and we’re running out. All our white bib shorts are riding the Etape – there’s 2,500 Brits in that.

“If anyone speaks to Cav, give him my regards, tell him to knock up a few more. Just keep hammering the Continentals.”

Hoban won his eight stages between 1967 and 1975.

TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 LINKS

Tour de France 2009 - the hub: Index to reports, photos, previews and more.

STAGE REPORTS

Stage 11: Cavendish takes fourth win to equal Hoban's record

Stage 10: Cavendish spoils Bastille Day party to take third stage win

Stage nine: Third French win as contenders content with ceasefire

stage eight: Sanchez wins from break as Tour favourites cancel each other out

Stage seven: Feillu wins at Arcalis, Nocentini takes yellow, Contador leap-frogs Lance

Stage six: Millar's brave bid denied on Barcelona hill as Hushovd triumphs

Stage five: Voeckler survives chase to win his first Tour stage

Stage four: Astana on top but Armstrong misses yellow by hundredths of a second

Live Tour de France stage four TTT coverage

Stage three: Cavendish wins second stage as Armstrong distances Contador

Stage two: Cavendish takes first sprint

Stage one: Cancellara wins opening time trial

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 PHOTOS

Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage four TTT photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Andy Jones

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Team presentation by Andy Jones

Team presentation by Graham Watson

TOUR GUIDE

Tour de France 2009 - the hub

Tour de France 2009: Who's riding

Tour de France 2009: Team guide

About the Tour de France

FEATURES

Tour de France 2009: Who will win?

Tour de France 2009 on TV: Eurosport and ITV4 schedules

Big names missing from 2009 Tour de France

Tour de France anti-doping measures explained

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish

Cycling Weekly's rider profiles

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Keith Bingham joined the Cycling Weekly team in the summer of 1971, and retired in 2011. During his time, he covered numerous Tours de France, Milk Races and everything in-between. He was well known for his long-running 'Bikewatch' column, and played a pivotal role in fighting for the future of once at-threat cycling venues such as Hog Hill and Herne Hill Velodrome.