Cavendish breaks nearly 50-year-old record for most Tour de France stage wins

British sprinter Mark Cavendish claimed his 35th stage win in the Tour de France on Wednesday, breaking the record set in 1975 by Belgian legend Eddy Merckx for the most individual stage wins.

Mark Cavendish broke Eddy Merckx’s old record for most stage wins in the Tour de France on Wednesday with his 35th victory.

The 39-year-old Cavendish sprinted for victory in the fifth stage of the Tour, running away from the finish line despite traffic jams, about 100 metres from the finish. He crossed the line ahead of Jasper Philipsen and then jumped into the arms of a teammate.

Cavendish equalled Merckx’s record of 34 wins at the 2021 Tour and came close to number 35 on stage 7 last year when he was narrowly beaten by Philipsen. A day later he crashed and broke his right collarbone.

The Belgian Merckx is considered the most dominant rider in cycling history. He won his 34 individual stages in the Tour between 1969 and 1975.

(AP)

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