Mark Cavendish needs just one more Tour de France stage win to equal the all-time record after taking a third victory on this year's race into Valence today.
The British rider, who is replacement on the race for the injured Sam Bennett, was delivered perfectly by his Deceuninck-QuickStep team mates today, with Michael Mørkøv in particular playing a key role in the victory.
Cavendish had Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) on his inside and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin Fenix) coming around the outside as the line approached. But he was fast enough to hold off both of his rivals.
Van Aert just lacked the last bit of speed he needed to take the victory and while Philipsen finished fastest of the top three, he left his effort a little late and had to settle for 3rd place.
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Staid amháin eile buaite ag an Mhanannach! 🥇 🚴♂️
Mark Cavendish takes Stage 1️⃣0️⃣ #TDF2021@LeTour ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/OtlWR6f5fy— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 6, 2021
Ireland's Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation) finished in 134th place, in a large group some 4:38 down on the 80 riders who remained in the peloton at the end of 190.7km on today's stage 10.
The finale of the race was much more lively than expected, with all-out racing in the crosswind sections as both Deceuninck-QuickStep and Jumbo-Visma tried at different times to split the field.
While race leader Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates) was at one point caught on the wrong side of a split, about 30 riders back from the front, he closed the gap without too much trouble. And he never really looked on the back foot from that point, retaining his yellow jersey.
Cavendish's win today means he now has 33 career wins on the Tour and he just needs one more to equal the all-time record of Eddy Merckx. While the record seemed impossible at the end of last year, when Cavendish almost drifted out of the sport, he looks back to his best and few would be against him now.
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