34th win of the day: Cavendish equalizes ancient record

The 36-year-old Briton won the 219,9-kilometer-long 13th stage from Nimes to Carcassonne on Friday, taking his 34th day win in the world's largest cycling race. The Belgian Merckx, who had the same number of daily victories between 1969 and 1975, now has to share the prestigious record. At least until Cavendish finally overtakes them with a 35th win.

“There will be no problem if Cavendish takes my record. I won't lose any sleep over this. If he manages to do it, I'll congratulate him, because it's not easy to win 34 sprints," the five-time overall winner from Belgium said in advance Journal of Sport said. Merckx once again discreetly referred to his 96 days in the yellow jersey, his titles and his versatility, with which he won various stages.

Cavendish, who has had a long dry spell, is performing again in 2021 as he did in his younger years. The coup in Carcassonne was already his fourth victory of the day; all mass sprints in the heavily decimated field of sprinters have so far gone to the veteran. His Danish driver Michael Mörköv and the Belgian Jasper Philipsen landed in second and third place on Friday. Even a bike change around 35 kilometers from the finish couldn't slow the Brit down.

Mark Cavendish (l.) outpaced everyone in the finish sprint. © APA/afp / PHILIPPE LOPEZ

Unlike the day before in Nimes, this time the sprinter teams did not let any group move too far away. A trio led by Frenchman Pierre Latour led the race for a long time, but at the back of the peloton the action was controlled at all times. Above all, Deceuninck-Quick-Step once again did everything they could to organize a mass finish for Cavendish after he had previously dominated all sprint finals.

In order to prevent further mass falls like at the start, the organizers intervened this time. Unlike usual, this time the time of the peloton was not three, but 4,5 kilometers from the finish, in case there were any falls afterwards. This was intended to somewhat defuse the rapid finish that had led to falls and criticism on this 108th tour. The drivers' association CPA expressly thanked the world association UCI and the organizer ASO. You are “happy” that you got this test. Pogacar cycles along easily As expected, it was an easy day for defending champion and yellow card holder Tadej Pogacar. The 22-year-old Slovenian defended his overall lead without any problems and is still over five minutes ahead of Rigoberto Uran (Colombia) and Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark).

After a hilly section on Saturday, which could suit breakaways and classic riders like Julian Alaphilippe, the battle for the yellow jersey will probably get serious again on Sunday at the latest. On the 191,3 kilometers to Andorra, during which the 2408-meter-high roof of the Tour is also climbed, Vingegaard and Co. have to attack courageously in order to have any chance against the far-running Pogacar. The young Dane had already driven away from the Dominator on Mont Ventoux, but was caught again on the descent.

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34th win of the day: Cavendish equalizes ancient record

Mark Cavendish has finally immortalized himself in the history books of the Tour de France and equaled the record set by cycling legend Eddy Merckx.

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