‘Everyone has a used by date’ – Why Quick-Step’s Mark Cavendish Tour de France omission wouldn’t be ‘mad’

A rider’s palmares should have no bearing on their participation at a Grand Tour, that is according to Robbie McEwen. The 12-time stage winner at the Giro was discussing the merits of Mark Cavendish going to the Tour de France on Eurosport’s pre-race show, The Breakaway. Ad/> The Manx Missile stands tall alongside the great Eddy Merckx as the leading stage winner at the Tour after a stunning return to form in 2021.

The then 36-year-old’s win on Stage 13 in Carcassonne was the third of three successes at the Tour in 2021 to move alongside Merckx on 34 wins. Giro d'Italia‘At least another 100 years’ – Blythe backs Cavendish history questAN HOUR AGO However, the Manxman’s participation at this year’s Giro indicated that Fabio Jakobsen would likely be Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl’s lead sprinter at the Tour, and Robbie McEwen said that he understood Quick-Step's purported preference for Jakobsen and added that every rider had a used by date regardless of their palmares. “If he was in another team that didn't have a Fabio Jakobsen, yes, they would take him to the Tour de France and they'd be mad not to,” said McEwen.

“But Cavendish knew the situation. And no matter what your palmares is, and how much you've won in the past, everybody has a used by date and the team has their own plans. And I can understand the team's thinking, but I can also understand a lot of people look at it and just go wow, they wouldn't take Cav to the Tour.

“But it's about who else they've got to use and what they feel is their most likely way of winning stages.” And pressed on whether Cavendish was past his used by date, McEwen added. «I think he's 37,» he said. «And he has he's not ready to be out of the peloton.