Wout van Aert jokes he'll try to stop Mark Cavendish winning again at Tour de France 'especially for Eddy Merckx'
The Belgian finished second on stage 10 of the 2021 race in Valence
![Wout van Aert](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pzKj4aqoHzAwvWeeGphHo4-415-80.jpg)
Wout van Aert has joked that he will aim to deny Mark Cavendish in his quest to become the holder of the most Tour de France stages in history on behalf of his compatriot Eddy Merckx.
Van Aert, riding for Jumbo-Visma, finished second on stage 10 of the race in Valence on Tuesday, unable to get past Cavendish who won his third stage of the 2021 edition.
Victory for the Briton moves him onto 33 career stage wins in the Tour, just one behind the record of 34 set by legendary rider Merckx.
Cavendish could equal the record later this week, but Van Aert quipped that he will try and add to his tally of three Tour wins to prevent Cavendish surpassing his fellow Belgian.
"I will try to win especially for Eddy," he laughed to Belgian broadcaster Sporza. "And also a bit for myself."
Strong winds threatened to disrupt the finale of stage 10 with echelons briefly forming and the peloton riding into a headwind in the finishing straight.
Cavendish was led out perfectly by his Deceuninck - Quick Step teammates, and Van Aert's strategy was to remain behind them before launching his move in the final 200 metres.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I came out of Cavendish's slipstream, but in the wind I couldn't completely make up the gap," he reflected.
>>> Read our full race report as Mark Cavendish wins yet again in the Tour de France
"I deliberately didn't want to go ahead of Cav with the headwind, but it didn't give me much time to get any closer either.
"I have no excuses: he was faster. I was where everyone wants to be in this Tour: on the Quick Step train.
"I have to thank Mike Teunissen. The teamwork was beautiful. It is motivating to make something out of it in this Tour."
Van Aert and his Jumbo-Visma team have had an indifferent start to the Tour, with their leader Primož Roglič abandoning after stage eight and the entire team suffering a number of crashes.
Joan Vingegaard is fourth on GC, but the team have yet to win a stage of this year's race, with 11 days of racing remaining.
Thank you for reading 20 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
A freelance sports journalist and podcaster, you'll mostly find Chris's byline attached to news scoops, profile interviews and long reads across a variety of different publications. He has been writing regularly for Cycling Weekly since 2013. In 2024 he released a seven-part podcast documentary, Ghost in the Machine, about motor doping in cycling.
Previously a ski, hiking and cycling guide in the Canadian Rockies and Spanish Pyrenees, he almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains. He lives in Valencia, Spain.
-
How to watch the Olympic cycling time trial at Paris 2024
Get all the information you need to watch the action of the men's and women's Olympic cycling time trial at Paris 2024
By Cat Glowinski Published
-
Ribble Cycles looking to capitalise on 'big summer of sport' with 30% off highly-rated models
Direct-to-consumer Ribble Cycles has always been rated highly among the Cycling Weekly tech team. This is our pick of the best Road, Gravel and E-bikes from their 'Summer Sale'
By Matt Ischt-Barnard Published
-
Tadej Pogačar broke 288 Strava KOMs during Tour de France victory
Slovenian won his third Tour title in Nice last weekend, and picked up a host of new trophies on Strava
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Primož Roglič reveals he suffered back fracture in Tour de France crash
Slovenian abandoned race after being caught up in crash on stage 12, Vuelta a España participation now in doubt
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
It's time to stop expecting so much of Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France
The British team are always under pressure to match their past best, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon
By Adam Becket Published
-
'A bigger result than winning': Jonas Vingegaard hails second place at the Tour de France
It turns out second place is not always 'first loser'
By James Shrubsall Published
-
'Even if I never come back to the Tour de France I will be satisfied': Tadej Pogačar revels in third victory
Three Tour de France wins before turning 26, the Giro-Tour double, the suggestion of a triple crown. Records tumble for the Slovenian
By Adam Becket Published
-
Remco Evenepoel: No one should doubt me anymore
The Tour de France's third-placed finisher suggests that he will have to reduce his time trial work if he is to beat Tadej Pogačar
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Tadej Pogačar: 'There will always be doubts... but cycling is the cleanest sport'
Tour de France champion addresses critics, saying it would be "super stupid" to dope
By Adam Becket Published
-
How Tadej Pogačar created history and won the Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double
A journey that was supposedly fraught with risk and uncertainty was anything but for Giro d'Italia and Tour de France victor Tadej Pogačar
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published