Cavendish chases Merckx before the Ventoux

Published on : 06/07/2021 – 19:02Modified : 06/07/2021 – 19:00

Valence (AFP)

In this tenth stage, contested on the eve of the double ascent of Mont Ventoux, Cavendish won for the 33rd time in the Tour de France cycling race. Without a blow, especially since he was masterfully taken by his teammates from Deceuninck (Asgreen, Ballerini and especially Morkov).

World champion Julian Alaphilippe himself worked in the final for the Isle of Man native, who again became a leading sprinter this season, at the age of 36.

Winner at Fougères (4th stage) then at Châteauroux (6th stage), Cavendish added Valence to his hunting roster. But above all, he stressed the importance of his teammates.

« I am too happy », Reacted the Briton. ” I didn’t do much, I only had to finish the work of my teammates, they were huge ».

The wearer of the green jersey recalled that his priority was to win the stage. ” I’m running for victory », He said about the intermediate sprint which had escaped him during the stage, because of the force of the team-mates of the Italian Sonny Colbrelli and the Australian Michael Matthews to distance him.

A whole train

Cavendish was careful not to mention the record of Merckx who, unlike the Briton, won on all terrains and above all took the Tour five times between 1969 and 1975. Four massive sprints are still possible this year so that it can equal or exceed the Belgian legend. The next meeting is set for Thursday in Nîmes.

To his advantage, in a private Tour now with several leading specialists (Ewan, Merlier, Démare), he has a full train, unlike Wout van Aert, lonely in the final and second on the line. ” I was beaten by stronger “, Estimated the champion of Belgium, who obtained his best place since the start.

Another Belgian, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin), returned to a cannonball but too late, took third place in a first peloton thinned in the final under the effect of the side wind and the blows of the team from Cavendish. The Frenchman Nacer Bouhanni this time took fourth place.

None of the top ten in the overall standings was trapped although the yellow jersey, Tadej Pogacar, was for a moment in a second group 16 kilometers from the finish. He immediately restored the situation, without asking his UAE training team members.

« It was not an easy day because it was windy and stressful to finish », Dropped the Slovenian on arrival. ” But we did pretty well ».

The surprises of Ventoux

For Pogacar and his opponents, it is a stage of a completely different difficulty which arises on Wednesday. With a double ascent of Mont Chauve, the first time by Sault, a second time by the classic climb from Bédoin on the southern slope. But the finish is judged this time in Malaucène, at the bottom of the 22 kilometer descent.

« It is perhaps the most difficult day of this Tour Pogacar said. ” I don’t really know the Ventoux, I came only once before the Tour ».

If he feels like it, he can ask Chris Froome, the hero of the previous arrival in 2016, for information. The Tour, which had to stop at Chalet Reynard, 6 kilometers from the summit, due to the gusts of wind, had swung into chaos on the road. The Briton, yellow jersey, had run as best he could, cycling shoes on, before recovering a bike.

Five years later, the four-time winner of the Tour is no longer concerned by the general classification, or even by the stage victory he had won in 2013 after a start without a possible reply from the Colombian Nairo Quintana. . ” I definitely have a love-hate relationship with the Ventoux “, Says Froome today, who also points out the obvious:” Le Ventoux is always full of surprises. »