SIR Mark Cavendish made sporting history yesterday with a record 35th Tour de France stage victory — 16 years after his first. The 39-year-old sprint great, who postponed his plans to retire last year, raised his arms as he crossed the line in one of his trademark dashes. Sir Mark, knighted just days ago, was ill in the opening stage of cycling’s greatest race , which began on Saturday.
And his achievement left him in tears of disbelief, with former Sun Page 3 model wife Peta and their children were there to embrace him in Saint-Vulbas. Sir Mark, who overhauled the Tour stage win record held by one of the sport’s all-time greats, Belgian Eddy Merckx, said afterwards: “I’m in a bit of disbelief.” He went on: “You sprint as hard as you can until you get to the finish and maybe your life changes if you cross that line first, maybe it doesn’t if you don’t.
“That is the nature of this race and what makes it so beautiful.” Mark won his first Tour de France stage in 2008 and equalled Merckx’s record of 34 in 2021. He has been chasing another since despite a series of setbacks.
In November 2021, he was threatened by robbers at knifepoint while he was home with his wife and children at Ongar, Essex. The Olympian was overlooked for the 2022 Tour de France and then joined cycling team Astana Qazaqstan, with his sights set on the record for the 2023 race. He announced plans to retire at the end of last season.
But Isle of Man-born Sir Mark — nicknamed the Manx M.
