Mark Cavendish makes history with record-breaking stage win at Tour de France

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Mark Cavendish achieved a historic milestone by winning his 35th stage at the Tour de France, crossing the finish line first in Saint-Vulbas in a thrilling sprint finish.

After being unable to compete in the final sprint on Stage 3 due to a crash, Cavendish made a strong comeback and won Stage 5. He used his years of experience to navigate through the chaos and emerge victorious in a thrilling race to the finish line.

Cavendish broke Eddy Merckx's record at the French Grand Tour this year, putting him ahead of the legendary Belgian cyclist.

Last year, the 39-year-old came very close to a significant win while riding for Astana Qazaqstan, but unfortunately crashed out of the race.

But despite previously planning to retire by the end of 2023, Cavendish decided to continue racing and achieved his 35th victory at the race.

The man from the Isle of Man, who received a knighthood earlier this year, achieved his first victory in a Tour stage in 2008 and showed an impressive display of sprinting skills 16 years later.

"I can hardly believe it," Cavendish said with a big smile. "Astana really took a risk by bringing me here this year to try and win at least one stage. You have to give it your all, and we did just that."

We had a clear vision of our goals, the process of assembling our team, and acquiring the necessary equipment. We focused on every small detail to make sure we were prepared for today.

The Tour de France is more than just a bike race. It usually takes me a while to truly get into the spirit of it. I have participated in 15 Tours de France so far, and while I strive to avoid having rough days, I understand that overcoming challenges can lead to great opportunities.

We didn't perform as well as we hoped as a team, but the guys worked together and helped me get to where I needed to be. It's definitely helpful to think on your feet and adapt in situations like these.

Following a calm stage where his teammates from Astana team managed the pace towards the finish, the experienced rider decided to break away from his usual teammates and expertly navigated through his competitors during a chaotic sprint. He strategically chose the perfect moment to accelerate and show his strength on the pedals.

Cavendish took the lead near the finish line and kept his position ahead of Jasper Philipsen from Alpecin-Deceuninck. Philipsen was unable to catch up and narrow the distance between them.

Cavendish's arms were outstretched in his usual victory pose, while his longtime rival Alexander Kristoff and up-and-comer Arnaud De Lie celebrated with him, slapping him on the back in congratulations.

Tadej Pogacar from Slovenia kept his lead in the yellow jersey after managing to avoid a collision with the central reservation just 57km from the finish line. Despite a few riders crashing behind him, Pogacar stayed on his feet and maintained his position at the front of the race.

Connecting with his former teammate and mentor, Mark Renshaw, who helped him secure numerous victories in the beginning of his career and currently serves as a director at Astana, Cavendish absorbed the feelings of the day before being surrounded by his loved ones.

"It's incredible," said Geraint Thomas, a former coworker and good friend, during an interview with ITV. "I'm thrilled for him. It's amazing that he's still performing at such a high level at his age. People often say that you become slower as you grow older, but he has definitely disproved that idea."

"I had a feeling that he would succeed. I mentioned it on my podcast! He typically struggles in the mountains, but I had faith that he would push through. All he had to do was stay focused and when he reached the end, he would give it his all. Well done!"