Saint Vulbas, France – Mark Cavendish made history at the Tour de France by winning stage 5 in a thrilling bunch sprint in Saint Vulbas. Cavendish’s impressive victory broke the record for the most stage wins at the prestigious race, a record he previously shared with cycling legend Eddy Merckx.
The Astana-Qazaqstan rider demonstrated incredible speed and tactics as he claimed his 35th career stage win at the Tour de France. In a close finish, Cavendish outpaced Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck, who secured the second spot, while Alexander Kristoff of Uno-X Mobility crossed the line in third place.
Despite announcing his retirement last year, Cavendish decided to continue racing after a crash during the Tour dashed his hopes of setting a new record. The veteran cyclist’s determination and resilience were on full display as he sprinted to victory in stage 5.
The day’s race saw Clément Russo from Groupama-FDJ and Mattéo Vercher from TotalEnergies break away early on, forming the breakaway of the day. However, the peloton closed in on them on the category 4 climb of the Côte de Lhuis with 30 kilometers to go, amidst challenging conditions caused by steady rain.
Defending champion Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates successfully defended the yellow jersey, finishing safely in the main group. Pogačar’s lead in the overall standings remains strong, with Remco Evenepoel of Soudal-QuickStep trailing by 45 seconds and Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike in third place, 50 seconds behind the leader.
The treacherous road conditions, coupled with the wet tarmac and road furniture, made for a demanding race, resulting in several nervous crashes along the way, fortunately without serious injuries. The riders showcased their skill and agility in navigating the hazardous conditions to reach the finish line.
With the Tour de France full of surprises and excitement, cycling enthusiasts await the upcoming stages to see who will emerge victorious in the battle for the prestigious title. Stay tuned for more updates and thrilling moments as the race unfolds.