Mark Cavendish 'in shock' at 'toughest' Tour de France route
Astana Qazaqstan rider will have to tackle "hard" race if he wants to break the stage win record
If he is to break Eddy Merckx's Tour de France stage win record next year, Mark Cavendish will have to tackle the "toughest course" he has ever seen.
The Astana Qazaqstan rider was present at the Palais des Congrès on Wednesday to watch the 2024 Tour de France route presentation, and appeared to be caught out by just how difficult the parcours are.
According to race organisers ASO there are eight flat stages, four hilly stages, seven mountain stages and two time trials, but many of the flat stages are tricky affairs, while the amount of climbing throughout will prove tough for the fast men and their leadout trains.
"It's so hard. I am actually in a bit of shock," Cavendish told the media, including Het Nieuwsblad and GCN, after the presentation. "It might be the hardest route I've ever seen at the Tour de France."
"There's a few [sprint opportunities], but you've got to get to them, that's the problem," he continued. "I think Turin should offer the chance for sprinters. This is perhaps the toughest course I have ever seen during a Tour de France."
The first chance for a bunch sprint should be on stage three, to Turin, but with 52,320 metres across the 3,492km of racing next July, it will be difficult to get round. Stages three, five, six, eight, 10, 12, 13 and 16 are all designated as flat by ASO, but many of those include notable amounts of climbing, while stages 10 and 16 could very well be affected by crosswinds.
Even the first sprint, in Turin, comes after two tough days in Italy, with stage one from Florence to Rimini includes 3,600 metres of climbing, and stage two including Bologna's San Luca climb twice towards the end. At least Cavendish has memories of past days in Tuscany to look back on while suffering
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"The start in Italy is super nice, it is right by my home for many years. It is only a few kilometres away, so I know the first kilometres really well, but it makes no difference because it starts hard, finishes hard and is all hard," Cavendish said.
"It will be beautiful in Italy, the Giro is always an incredible race and I know the Tuscan people just love cycling. It is really quite special."
The sprinter initially announced during the 2023 Giro d'Italia that he would call time on his career at the end of the current season. However, having crashed out of the 2023 Tour de France, it was confirmed this month that he will postpone retirement with the possibility of taking the stage win record at the Tour. He currently shares the record with Eddy Merckx.
To that end, the team has bolstered its sprint squad, signing Michael Mørkøv and Davide Ballerini from Soudal Quick-Step, Max Kanter from Movistar, and Rüdi Selig from Lotto Dstny.
"It's kind of still in the process, we know roughly what we are doing next year. It's a good group, I've seen a lot of the new guys," Cavendish added.
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
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
Lip service isn't good enough: here's what needs to change for cycling events to actually be inclusive
These are the key actions that make an event actually inclusive and do more than just lip service.
By Marley Blonsky Published
-
Ask a coach: ‘Should I cycle commute every day?’
The length of your commute is a major factor; but there are ways to adapt your routine to maximise on the gains of riding into work
By Alex Welburn Published
-
Wout van Aert back on drop bars as he says he’s 'almost professional again' in Strava post
Visma-Lease a Bike rider broke his collarbone, sternum and several ribs in a high speed crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard leaves hospital after Itzulia Basque Country horror crash
Danish rider underwent surgery to repair broken collarbone; too early to know whether Tour de France return will be possible
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Will the Tour de France be won by the last man standing?
With Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič hitting the deck at Itzulia Basque Country, all three now face battle to get their seasons back on track
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tom Pidcock unable to bear weight on right leg after Itzulia Basque Country crash
British rider crashed during recon of opening stage time trial last weekend and injured his right hip
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish to miss Scheldeprijs as illness continues to affect schedule
Cavendish will ride Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye later this month, Astana Qazaqstan confirms
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel not intimidated by Tadej Pogačar’s form ahead of Milan-San Remo clash
Dutchman starts his 2024 road season at Italian Monument on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I pulled it off and turned everything around' - Brandon McNulty on the ride that changed him
US star grabbed his first ever Grand Tour win at last year’s Giro d’Italia
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson, Visma-Lease a Bike’s new star, continues to impress at Paris-Nice
The American could step into the leaders yellow jersey on Tuesday evening after stage three’s team time trial in Auxerre
By Tom Thewlis Published