Mark Cavendish - from practising his victory celebrations in the mirror to becoming the greatest sprinter of all time
Exclusive takes from his first team boss, former teammates Hansen and Haussler, and rivals Kittel and Greipel
Mark Cavendish made history on stage 5 of the Tour de France, becoming the most successful ever stage winner in the race’s history, and surpassing Eddy Merckx with a 35th career victory in the race.
At the finish in Saint Vulbas, the British sprinter was mobbed, not just by his celebrating teammates, but by his rivals, and the media, as he wrote his name further into the history books. It was a win that many thought would never happen, at 39 years of age, and in his final Tour de France, but this was a fitting milestone for a rider who has dominated sprinting for the last 15 years and come back from several major setbacks.
Last night we spoke to several former teammates, rivals and friends to talk about Cavendish and what made him special as a rider, on and off the bike.
We caught up with former teammates Adam Hansen and Heinrich Haussler, along with former rivals Marcel Kittel and André Greipel, along with Cavendish’s first team boss, Bob Stapleton.