Mark Cavendish (39) takes history-making win at Tour de France | Video

Mark Cavendish, who has battled mental health issues and serious physical health set-backs, has now become the most prolific stage winner in Tour de France history

Mark Cavendish may be closing in on his 40th birthday but the British sprinter has today won another stage of the Tour de France, bringing his career tally to 35 and eclipsing the great Eddy Merck.

Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team) barged and bumped his way through the final sprint of today's stage 5 into Saint Vulbas and expertly moved around the head of the bunch inside the final 2km.

And once he kicked for the line, in truth, he made it look easy; never really challenged by runner-up Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) or 3rd placed finisher Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility).

Cavendish, whose wife and children were waiting for him at the finish to share in the celebration, had gone close to taking a win on the Tour last year, finishing 2nd on stage 7, after suffering gear problems in the sprint, before crashing out of the race the next day.

And while it looked like that stage 8 crash last year may have ended the dream of taking the all-time record on the Tour, he has come back with Astana again this year and now claimed a huge victory.

Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) was also in the sprint, though did not really feature at the front and finished back in 13th place.

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