Mark Cavendish equalled Eddy Merckx’s all-time record of 34 stage wins on the Tour de France when he sprinted to victory in Friday’s 13th stage.
The Deceuninck-Quick-Step rider has now won four stages on this year’s Tour, 13 years after claiming his first.
He finished ahead of his lead-out man Michael Morkov, with Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix) coming home third.
“I can’t even think about it,” Cavendish said. “I’m so dead after 220km, in that heat, in that wind, that final. I went deep there, so deep. The boys were incredible. I can’t believe it.
“It’s still just another win on the Tour de France, it’s like my first one. I’ve won a stage of the Tour de France, it’s what I’ve dreamed of as a kid. It’s what I dream of now. I’ve worked so hard for it.”
Tadej Pogacar retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey.
Cavendish pakt zijn 34e zege in de Tour en evenaart het record van Merckx #TDF2021 #TDF #TourDeFrance pic.twitter.com/R2tzFziPBw
— Sporza ? (@sporza_koers) July 9, 2021
