© BELGIUM
Britain’s Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team) will receive his own podium tribute today during the closing ceremony of the 111th edition of the Tour de France. This is confirmed by the official protocol of the race. Earlier this Tour, Cavendish crowned himself the sole record holder in the Tour with a 35th stage win.
With a sprint win in the fifth stage to Saint-Vulbas, Cavendish rode himself into the history books in the first week of the Tour. He is the only rider ever to have won 35 stages. At the start of this Tour, ‘Cav’ shared the record number of 34 stage wins with cycling legend Eddy Merckx.
The 39-year-old Cavendish, who last year postponed his retirement for a season to claim that much-discussed 35th stage win, crossed the finish line in tears yesterday on what was likely the last Tour de France stage of his career. As penultimate in the standings, the Briton will start today’s final time trial to Nice as the second rider.
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An emotional Cavendish after his final mountain stage in the Tour yesterday. — © EPA-EFE
Tour organizer Christian Prudhomme was one of the first people to hug Cavendish at the finish on Saturday, and the Tour will honor the British sprint legend with a prominent place late in the podium ceremony on Sunday evening after the final time trial. A podium ceremony for Cavendish is scheduled between the green and yellow jersey awards.
