2024 Tour de France Stage 5 | Highlights

Report

In a momentous stage five of the Tour de France, Sir Mark Cavendish surged past the competition to claim his 35th stage win in Saint Vulbas, surpassing the legendary Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 stage victories.

Riding for Astana Qazaqstan, Cavendish demonstrated his enduring class and sprinting prowess. As the peloton navigated the final bend, it was the Manxman who emerged clear, crossing the finish line ahead of the pack to secure a historic win and etch his name deeper into the annals of cycling history.

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) completed the podium, but the day belonged to Cavendish, who, at 39, continues to defy expectations and time itself.

Reflecting on his record-breaking achievement, Cavendish expressed his disbelief and gratitude, “Woah. I’m in a little bit of disbelief. We gambled on coming here and winning at least one stage. Every detail has gone specifically to today. The Tour de France is bigger than cycling.”

The stage unfolded with early attacks and a breakaway that saw Clément Russo (Groupama-FDJ) and Mattéo Vercher (TotalEnergies) gain a significant lead. However, the peloton, controlled by Lidl-Trek and Alpecin-Deceuninck, ensured the escapees were reeled in with 36km remaining.

A dramatic crash within the last hour of racing saw Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) and Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) among those affected, with the yellow jersey wearer Tadej Pogačar narrowly avoiding disaster.

As the race approached its climax, the sprint teams jostled for position, with Cavendish losing his lead-out train amidst the chaos. Yet, in a display of tactical acumen and experience, he latched onto the right wheels and found the perfect moment to launch his sprint, claiming a victory that will be remembered for years to come.

Despite a crash involving Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), the day’s narrative was dominated by Cavendish’s remarkable feat, proving that legends only grow stronger with time.

Results

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