Mark Cavendish exclusive: Giro d'Italia stage win impossible without help from 'legend' Geraint Thomas

30.06.2023 - 16:25 eurosport.com

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) insists he would not have claimed a fairytale win at the 2023 Giro d’Italia without help from “legend” Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers).

Speaking exclusively to Eurosport for new documentary Mark Cavendish: All In ahead of his tilt for a record 35th stage win at the Tour de France, Cavendish relived his incredible victory on the final stage in May.

Ad Cavendish was launched into the sprint showdown by friend and former team-mate Thomas, who drove the pace on the front during a frantic finale in Rome just 24 hours after his own dream of winning the overall race unravelled.

Tour de FranceMcEwen’s sprinter rankings as Cavendish given 1% chance of stage win5 HOURS AGO “It was special. Rome is special.

cycling sprint win Giro Mark Cavendish Orla Chennaoui Geraint Thomas France Rome Astana

Mark Cavendish has had surgery on his collarbone that forced him to abandon this year's Tour de France. The British sprinter crashed on Stage 8 of the Tour after breaking his collarbone that ended his chances of a 35th Tour victory. He remains tied with Belgian great Eddy Merckx on 34 wins.

Mark Cavendish in squad list for UCI World Championships despite Tour de France injury, Geraint Thomas also included

Mark Cavendish has been named in the squad list for the UCI World Championships despite his Tour de France withdrawal. Geraint Thomas has been selected to lead Great Britain's men's road team at next month's Championships in Scotland. Ad On the women's long list, former world champion Lizzie Diegnan has returned to competition after welcoming her second child, alongside national champion Pfeiffer Georgi.

Mark Cavendish offered one-year deal for 2024 – could he U-turn on retirement and return to Tour de France?

Astana-Qazaqstan have asked Mark Cavendish to delay his retirement and return to the Tour de France in 2024 – but is it a realistic possibility? Cavendish's hopes of claiming the outright record of stage victories at the Tour ended on Stage 8 when he broke his right collarbone in a heavy fall, leaving him tied with Belgian great Eddy Merckx on 34 wins. Ad But Astana boss Alexander Vinokourov has already begun a charm offensive and is hoping to convince the 38-year-old to race again next season.

Mark Cavendish was 'almost nailed on' to win a stage – Tributes flood in after 'gutting' Tour de France crash

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) was «almost nailed on» to win a stage on his swansong appearance at the Tour de France, says Adam Blythe, before a crash derailed his hopes of claiming the outright record for stage victories. Cavendish fell victim to a concertina effect in the peloton with 61km remaining on Stage 8 as he hit the tarmac, with it soon evident that his race was over as medical staff helped him into an ambulance. Ad His exit was made extra painful given what happened 24 hours earlier, when a mechanical likely denied him a record 35th win at the Tour.