Mark Cavendish takes historic 35th Tour de France stage victory
A hugely emotional Mark Cavendish thanked his wife and children for supporting him over the last few years as he finally achieved his long-held ambition of becoming the most successful Tour de France stage winner of all time.
The Manx rider, 39, claimed his 35th Tour stage, which lifts him one clear of Belgian great Eddy Merckx, rolling back the years with a sensational sprint into Saint-Vulbas in stage five of the 111th Tour. He then collapsed into the arms of his wife, Peta, and children Delilah, 12, Frey, eight, Casper, six and Astrid, one, who later joined him on the podium.
Other friends and team-mates, including his former housemate and Great Britain colleague Geraint Thomas, were also swiftly on the scene to congratulate one of the sport’s most colourful and compelling characters.
Cavendish, who was knighted last month and is in the final year of his career, having stayed on one more year in an attempt to claim this record, said he was “privileged” to have been able to celebrate with loved ones.
“I think I’ve been home less than three weeks this year,” he said when asked about the presence of his family, who watched the denouement outside the Astana-Qazaqstan team bus near the finish line. “I’ve been away so much training, racing. Not just me but my team-mates. Everyone has put a lot into this. You know, when you’ve got five children and your wife is bringing them up, making sure they live a normal life when dad’s away…It’s pretty special you know? They’ve been supporting me the whole time.
“For them to be able to come over yesterday and share this moment, I think any father would be able to testify how special it is. What’s the point in doing anything unless you can share it with those closest to you, your family, particularly children, and with your friends? I’m very fortunate to get that privilege today.”
Now 39, Cavendish – who was knighted in the King’s Birthday Honours last month – is no longer the quickest sprinter in the peloton. But he is still one of the canniest and most tactically astute.
After making it easily over the Côte de Lhuis – a 3 kilometre climb averaging 4.8 per cent with about 30 kilometres of the stage remaining, which some thought might trouble him, but which Cavendish opted to ride right on the front of the bunch – he was shepherded into the final kilometre by his team-mates before going solo in the final 600 metres, coming around the last bend and hugging the left hand barrier before leaving his rivals for dead. It was a glorious performance.
“I saw Alpecin had numbers so I thought go with them,” he said of his tactics. “[Pascal] Ackerman would be there, but you can’t really predict which way Pascal goes. You have to kind of wait for him to jump and then come off him. So that’s what I did.”
HE'S DONE IT!!!!
MARK CAVENDISH TAKES A RECORD BREAKING 35TH TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE VICTORY 🇮🇲🚀#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/ZWqfbnS7eN— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 3, 2024
The win was all the more remarkable for the fact that Cavendish suffered so badly in the first few days of the race, vomiting on stage 1 in the searing heat of Tuscany, and then grinding his way through an equally hot second stage to Bologna featuring six more categorised climbs. Tuesday’s stage saw the peloton crest the Galibier, the highest point of the race so far, on the first big mountain stage of the race. But Cavendish said he had always had confidence in his Astana team and had tried to remain calm, even though he was tired.
“I think you saw with the final half-a-stage today, my boys were committed. That means more than anything in terms of how I feel physically,” he said. “It’s the Tour de France, you’re never going to feel fresh in this bike race. I think that’s the same for anyone.
“But yeah if you know what you have to do… if I stay calm and trust in my boys, I know I’m in with my best shot. There’s nothing else you can do except for realise that. And when you realise that you’re going to be more calm. That’s my sports psychology talk but not very eloquently told!”
Cavendish, who said he would try to complete his final Tour and reach the final time trial in Nice – the final stage has been moved from Paris because of the Olympics – also hit out at his critics, saying there would “always be someone wanting to take something away from you”.
“Of course there will be people who didn’t believe I could win another stage of the Tour. But that’s because they don’t know what it takes to win a stage of the Tour. They’ll say ‘It’s an easy stage’ or whatever. That happens. But we do what we can and that’s all we can do!”
British Cycling released a statement describing Cavendish as “one of our country’s truly great sportsmen and sporting personalities” while the rest of the peloton, including yellow jersey wearer and two-time Tour winner Tadej Pogacar, likewise paid tribute.
“When I was a kid I was watching Mark with my friends and my brothers and he was such a class. Now it’s already six years I’m racing against him and we’re quite good friends I would say. It’s an historic moment. Congrats.
“Mark asked me back there ‘Please don’t break this record, so I will let him have it!”
Cavendish said he was honoured to be riding with this generation. “I’m very fortunate to be able to share the peloton now in my final years with riders that I’ll continue to be a fan of once I’ve stopped riding. Everybody has been so nice these last few days.
“Well not everybody, but the majority have said ‘I hope you can win that 35th stage’. It really gets me emotional. We’ve got an incredible group of bike riders in the men’s and women’s peloton in 2024. And I’m proud I get to call them competitors before I hang up my wheels.”
Cavendish seals historic 35th stage victory at the Tour de France: As it happened
05:38 PM BST
Greatness
Records are made to be broken. Bravo Sir Mark Cavendish on 35 stage wins. 👏
Les records sont faits pour être battus. Bravo à Sir Mark Cavendish pour tes 35 victoires d'étape. 👏#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/Y1ZA52aJtg— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 3, 2024
05:33 PM BST
More from Mark Cavendish
"It's how the Tour de France is. You sprint as hard as you can until you get to finish line. And maybe your life changes"
Mark Cavendish talks to Matt after winning his record breaking 35th Tour de France stage 🙌🇮🇲#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/vNd1C4QgkW— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 3, 2024
05:29 PM BST
Onto the podium
Mark Cavendish steps onto the podium for his history making 35th Tour de France win with his family! pic.twitter.com/sQz3PCp6YN
— Eurosport (@eurosport) July 3, 2024
05:23 PM BST
The thoughts of race director Christian Prudhomme
"Everyone has a smile today, even Eddy Merckx"
Tour race director Christian Prudhomme reacts to Mark Cavendish's record breaking 35th stage victory 🇫🇷#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/fAGcxz9eaZ— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 3, 2024
05:20 PM BST
The GOAT
History 🐐🇮🇲#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/uTv7k6vAIK
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 3, 2024
05:14 PM BST
More tributes pouring in
Congratulations @MarkCavendish !! History made 👏🇬🇧 #TdF2024
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 3, 2024
Msbencavwusofmh35wkamshdh
— Luke Rowe (@LukeRowe1990) July 3, 2024
05:11 PM BST
35 is the magic number!
🥲 THE DREAM COMES TRUE#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/VghY8Xusc7
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 3, 2024
05:07 PM BST
The thoughts of the man himself, Mark Cavendish
05:06 PM BST
Wins through the years
04:59 PM BST
This says it all
04:56 PM BST
Geraint Thomas heaps praise on Cav
"It's unbelievable. I'm so happy for him"
Geraint Thomas 🏴 reacts to Mark Cavendish winning his record breaking 35th Tour de France stage victory 🙌#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/EQ3v6wg4Va— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 3, 2024
04:54 PM BST
Quotes from British Cycling
Great Britain Cycling Team Performance Director, Stephen Park CBE, said:
On behalf of British Cycling I would like to congratulate Sir Mark on a truly outstanding achievement. It goes without saying that Mark is one of the greatest British riders of all time, and to cap off his final season of racing with another victory at the sport’s biggest race is a fitting final chapter in a glittering career.
We have been proud to support Mark from his early days on the Great Britain Cycling Team academy to his final Tour de France, and this is an incredibly special day for the coaches, support staff, fellow riders and fans who have all played a role in his journey.
Mark’s long and storied career, his passion for the sport and his tenacious pursuit for excellence make him a real inspiration for the next generation of bike riders looking to follow in his footsteps. He is one of our country’s truly great sportsmen and sporting personalities, and it has been a privilege to have watched him reign supreme for all these years.
04:52 PM BST
Dreams do come true
If you have watched the Netflix series ‘Tour de France: Unchained’, you will have heard Cav talk about finishing the most incredible dream with the 35th stage win. Well, you have done that Cav!
04:50 PM BST
Emotions running high
You cannot help but be emotional as we are seeing greatness in front of our eyes. On stage one he was vomiting as he struggled on the opening day but all that pain and suffering is absolutely worth it.
🤯 SIR MARK CAVENDISH MAKES HISTORY🤯
The Manx Missile wins a record-breaking 35th stage of the Tour de France
The tears are flowing 🥹@LeTour | @MarkCavendish | #TDF2024pic.twitter.com/8vqnpaQfAv— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 3, 2024
04:49 PM BST
Top five across the line
Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility)
Arnaud de Lie (Lotto Dstny)
Fabio Jakobsen (Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL)
04:48 PM BST
The final kilometre
We could watch this over and over again:
04:46 PM BST
Sharing his success
Cav’s wife and children are there to celebrate this incredible moment. He is not only a British sporting great, but a global sporting icon.
04:42 PM BST
Comfortable
As he has done on a number of occasions, he did it on his own, surfing the wheels of his competitors, and won it comfortably in the end.
04:41 PM BST
Tour de France history
We are witnessing sporting greatness and immortality. Cav held the record alongside the great Eddy Merckx but he now has it all to himself. The greatest sprinter of all time and now has more stages than anyone else in the history of this incredible race.
THIRTY FIVE! 🚀
Sir Mark Cavendish. Cycling's greatest ever sprinter.#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/vqzOF2nIsP— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) July 3, 2024
04:39 PM BST
Cav wins!
HE HAS DONE IT! 35 STAGE WINS! YOU BEAUTY MARK CAVENDISH!
HE'S DONE IT!!!!
MARK CAVENDISH TAKES A RECORD BREAKING 35TH TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE VICTORY 🇮🇲🚀#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/ZWqfbnS7eN— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 3, 2024
04:38 PM BST
500m to go
Here we go, can Cav do it?
04:37 PM BST
1km to go
Under the flamme rouge we go as Philipsen has been brought up by Alpecin-Deceuninck.
04:36 PM BST
2km to go
We have gone round the final proper corner. 2km to go.
Philipsen is out of position at the moment.
04:36 PM BST
2.5km to go
Cavendish is near the front with de Lie also in a great position.
04:35 PM BST
3km to go
We are hitting 70km/h!
04:34 PM BST
4km to go
The pace is electric as the leadouts get into position. They are now into the ‘safe zone’, in case there are any crashes.
04:33 PM BST
5km to go
Inside 5km and Cavendish is in a decent position.
04:32 PM BST
6km to go
UAE Team Emirates are at the front, protecting Pogacar. We go through another roundabout.
04:31 PM BST
7km to go
The peloton goes through a roundabout and it has strung out. Astana Qazaqstan have lost their position on the front.
04:30 PM BST
8km to go
Astana Qazaqstan are lined up well for Cavendish on the right-hand side of the road.
04:28 PM BST
10km to go
We are under 10km from the finish.
Strap yourselves in!
04:27 PM BST
11km to go
Across the front of the peloton we have Astana Qazaqstan, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL and Bahrain Victorious. Some are preparing their sprint leadouts, some protecting their GC men.
04:23 PM BST
14km to go
Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL are now appearing at the front of the peloton for their sprinter Fabio Jakobsen.
04:22 PM BST
15km to go
The pace is really ramping up here as we head into the final 15km. Astana Qazaqstan and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe are amongst the teams at the front.
There is nearly another crash as a spectator taking a phone gets way too close and nearly causes an incident.
04:17 PM BST
20km to go
Into the final 20km we go and the weather has improved, much to the relief of the whole peloton. Laporte is now back into the peloton after his crash. Kristoff is also back into the peloton.
04:14 PM BST
22km to go
Kristoff is working hard to get back as he is set to sprint for Uno-X Mobility today.
04:11 PM BST
25km to go
Another crash as Christophe Laporte (Visma-Lease a Bike) goes down. The lay-out of the road furniture is ridiculous and, when you add in the slippery conditions, it is so treacherous. This is only going to cause more tension in the peloton.
04:08 PM BST
27km to go
Uno-X Mobility’s Alexander Kristoff has taken a fall on this descent in these slippery conditions and his teammate Tobias Halland Johannessen has stuck with him.
Crash for 🇳🇴@Kristoff87. He is making his way back to the peloton.
Légère chute de 🇳🇴@Kristoff87 à 27 km de l'arrivée, il a repris la route !#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/5f8oenDAo7— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 3, 2024
04:06 PM BST
29km to go
Astana Qazaqstan have positioned themselves well at the front on this descent into Saint-Vulbas. Both Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost) and Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) have both had to make bike changes.
03:59 PM BST
34km to go
At the top of the Côte de Lhuis, there is just one king of the mountains point available. Abrahamsen, who holds the green and polka dot jersey, has to fight his way up the peloton and goes unchallenged to the line for that solitary point.
03:56 PM BST
35km to go
Russo and Vercher thank each other for their efforts and are now caught. The peloton is now the front of the race, 1.2km from the summit.
03:55 PM BST
36km to go
Astana Qazaqstan have positioned themselves well at the front of the peloton with Mark Cavendish safely tucked in near the front. The breakaway is nearly done.
03:52 PM BST
37km to go
As we hit the Côte de Lhuis, the peloton has nearly caught them.
03:52 PM BST
38km to go
It has been a good effort from Russo and Vercher but they knew their fate when they attacked. The gap is now under 20 seconds.
03:47 PM BST
41km to go
Astana Qazaqstan Sport Director Mark Renshaw has asked Harold Tejada over team radio to move to the front of the peloton to help with the team’s positioning. The gap to the front two is now down to just 30 seconds as we approach the Côte de Lhuis.
03:44 PM BST
43km to go
Top ten at the intermediate sprint:
Clement Russo (Groupama-FDJ), 20pts
Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies), 17
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), 15
Sam Bennett (Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale), 13
Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), 11
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), 10
Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), 9
Arnaud Demare (Arkea-B&B Hotels), 8
Ryan Gibbons (Lidl-Trek), 7
Fernando Gaviria (Movistar Team), 6
03:41 PM BST
46km to go
Rain jackets are being put on by a number of riders in the peloton, who are now just 50 seconds behind the front duo. The roads are very slippery and the nerves in the peloton will be sky-high now.
03:37 PM BST
49km to go
The tension is rising in the peloton with the rain getting heavier. The pace has stepped up in the peloton and it would not be a massive surprise in these conditions if there is another crash.
03:32 PM BST
54km to go
We are heading into deep, dense clouds and some heavy rain. Russo takes the full 20 points ahead of Vercher, who rolls in behind. The pace in the peloton is ramping up as they close in on he sprint.
The 15 points for third goes to Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), just ahead of Sam Bennett (Decathlon-Ag2R La Mondiale).
The peloton are now just over a minute behind.
03:29 PM BST
55km to go
One kilometre for the front duo to the intermediate sprint.
03:27 PM BST
59km to go
There has been a crash towards the back of the peloton as the road furniture causes chaos. Bahrain Victorious’ Pello Bilbao, who is 16th in the general classification, was one of a number of riders who went down. Tadej Pogacar so nearly went down as he had very little time to react but managed to slow down and flick his bike around it, but the ripple effect caused the crash further back. The bike-handling skills were incredible from Pogacar as every time you see the replay you wonder how on earth he did not smash the bollard.
Tadej Pogačar nearly crashes into a traffic island 😱💛🇸🇮
Superb bike handling skills 😮💨#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/IasqcTCN3B— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 3, 2024
03:19 PM BST
63km to go
We are under 10km away from the intermediate sprint but the peloton will not have caught the front duo by then as they are still two and a half minutes behind. There will still be points available though for the peloton.
03:16 PM BST
65km to go
The first sprint stage on Monday into Turin was won by Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty). Could he win a second today? Let us hear from him now:
"There is no limit. If you win one stage you must go for the second"
Biniam Girmay is looking for more stage wins and the green jersey 💚🇪🇷#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/1gW8hDgIbW— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 3, 2024
03:11 PM BST
70km to go
The peloton have reached the summit of the Côte du Cheval Blanc, just under two and a half minutes behind the front duo.
03:08 PM BST
73km to go
Russo and Vercher come over the top of the Côte du Cheval Blanc as the peloton hit the foot. Russo takes the one king of the mountains point.
03:03 PM BST
75km to go
This could cause some drama. We have already heard from our man Tom Cary at the finish in Saint-Vulbas that the rain is coming down hard and with just under 80km to go the riders have already hit rain. The gap out in front is now under three minutes.
The front two hit the Côte du Cheval Blanc, which is just 1.5km in length.
02:57 PM BST
80km to go
The gap out in front is down to three minutes and 10 seconds but the peloton perhaps do not want to catch the two-man breakaway too early. You guessed it, Tim Declercq is powering the peloton on. Lidl-Trek, Declercq’s team, have just said over team radio they are happy with the current gap.
02:54 PM BST
83km to go
It’s raining hard in Saint-Vulbas where we await the peloton. Everyone is intrigued to see whether Cavendish gets over the second cat 4 climb (3km at 4.8% average, roughly 30km from the finish) in good shape and puts himself in contention for the sprint. He seemed reasonably confident this morning that this stage was one for him. There’s also plenty of interest in today’s intermediate sprint, with Biniam Girmay only four points behind in the green jersey classification.
02:46 PM BST
90km to go
Is today the day for number 35?
02:41 PM BST
94km to go
We have a four-kilometre safe zone at the end of today’s stage which is where all the general classification teams will be aiming for and with gaps only appearing in excess of three seconds between riders, the GC men should have nothing to worry about at the finish today.
02:35 PM BST
97km to go
Here is the top five in the points classification:
Jonas Abrahamsen, Uno-X-Mobility, 87pts
Biniam Girmay, Intermarché-Wanty, 83pts
Mads Pedersen, Lidl-Trek, 79pts
Kevin Vauquelin, Arkea-B&B Hotels, 60pts
Bryan Coquard, Cofidis, 45pts
We have an intermediate sprint at Aoste (Saint-Didier) with around 54km to go.
02:30 PM BST
100km to go
We have dipped under the 100km mark left on today’s stage and the gap out in front is at three minutes and 40 seconds.
02:26 PM BST
102km to go
With two category four climbs today with just a few points available in the king of the mountains classification, here is a look at that classification:
Jonas Abrahamsen, Uno-X-Mobility, 24pts
Tadej Pogacar, UAE Team Emirates, 20pts
Valentin Madouas, Groupama-FDJ, 16pts
Jonas Vingegaard, Visma-Lease a Bike, 15pts
Remco Evenepoel, Soudal-Quick Step, 12pts
02:18 PM BST
106km to go
The peloton are starting to gradually step up the pace as the gap to the breakaway has now dropped to three minutes and 40 seconds.
02:12 PM BST
110km to go
That man Declercq is on the front of the peloton once again and the gap to the two-man breakaway is down to around four minutes.
02:08 PM BST
113km to go
What do we make of this? Yes or no?
We have a debate amongst the team today and we're calling for extra input:
Do chickens have knees? 🐥#TDF2024— EF Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) July 3, 2024
02:03 PM BST
116km to go
The gap between the duo out front of Russo and Vercher and the peloton is four minutes and 23 seconds.
01:56 PM BST
121km to go
Coming up on today’s stage we have two category four climbs; the Côte du Cheval Blanc and the Côte de Lhuis, as well as an intermediate sprint at Aoste (Saint-Didier) in between those two climbs.
01:44 PM BST
128km to go
As we so often see, Tim Declercq (Lidl-Trek), known as ‘The Tractor’, is at the front of the peloton pulling everyone along. Lidl-Trek are riding for Mads Pedersen. Alpecin-Deceuninck have sent a few riders towards the front for Jasper Philipsen and Astana Qazaqstan have sent a rider up for Mark Cavendish.
The gap between the breakaway and the peloton stands at just over four and a half minutes.
01:39 PM BST
132km to go
The two-man breakaway has over four minutes now on the peloton, which is very relaxed.
01:33 PM BST
137km to go
We have just heard over the Astana Qazaqstan team radio Mark Renshaw, who is the team’s Sport Director, asking the riders to ask Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) how his shoulder is today. There are rumours that yesterday Gaviria held onto a team car.
01:29 PM BST
139km to go
The peloton will not be panicking one bit but the front duo of Vercher and Russo now have over three minutes on the peloton.
01:24 PM BST
144km to go
Vercher has joined Russo at the front and their lead over the peloton is just under two minutes. Remember we had back-to-back French victories to start this year’s Tour; Romain Bardet (Team DSM-Firmenich) on stage one and Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) on stage two.
01:18 PM BST
148km to go
We have a rider out in front; Clement Russo of Groupama-FDJ! He is around 45 seconds clear of the peloton but unfortunately for Russo, I think we can rule him out winning the stage.
Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) has also attacked off the front of the peloton and is trying to join Russo at the front.
01:13 PM BST
151km to go
There have been plenty of riders who are semi-trying to break away but no concerted and prolonged efforts so everything is still very much together.
01:11 PM BST
154km to go
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-Alula) has certainly drawn a fair bit of attention already for these sunglasses. Would you be able to pull this off?
01:06 PM BST
157km to go
Pogacar and van der Poel are both up at the front of the peloton, having a bit of fun with things very calm at the moment. Neither are going to attack but they can afford some fun.
01:04 PM BST
158km to go
Tadej Pogacar took the yellow jersey back from Richard Carapaz yesterday after winning stage four. You can catch the highlights from yesterday here, including the climb up the iconic Galibier:
12:52 PM BST
166km to go
Lazkano and Ayuso were taking it so easy that the steady peloton have caught up with them. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is at the front of the peloton at the moment and we have seen plenty of the big, imposing figure of Tim Declercq (Lidl-Trek) as well.
12:49 PM BST
168km to go
It is very relaxed in the peloton so they can enjoy the scenery!
12:43 PM BST
170km to go
We have a couple of riders off the front and they are both Spaniards; Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) and Oier Lazkano (Movistar). It does not look like a serious attack as the chances of a breakaway winning today are very, very slim.
12:41 PM BST
172km to go
A year ago on stage five Jai Hindley of Red-Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe took the victory from Laruns to Pau to take the yellow jersey on his Tour debut, becoming the eighth Australian to wear the famous yellow jersey. Today’s stage is just a little flatter than the same stage last year!
12:33 PM BST
175km to go
The pace is super steady in the peloton and no-one is interested at the moment in attacking. There are two category four climbs today; the Côte du Cheval Blanc and the Côte de Lhuis, as well as an intermediate sprint at Aoste (Saint-Didier) in between those two climbs.
12:30 PM BST
Flag drops
Off we go on stage five at the 2024 Tour de France as we hit kilometre zero!
12:21 PM BST
Roll-out
The neutralised roll-out has begun in Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne and we are around 4.5km away from the flag dropping.
12:19 PM BST
Top five in points classification
Jonas Abrahamsen, Uno-X-Mobility, 87pts
Biniam Girmay, Intermarché-Wanty, 83pts
Mads Pedersen, Lidl-Trek, 79pts
Kevin Vauquelin, Arkea-B&B Hotels, 60pts
Bryan Coquard, Cofidis, 45pts
12:15 PM BST
Top five in the general classification
Tadej Pogacar, UAE Team Emirates, 19hr 6min 38sec
Remco Evenepoel, Soudal-Quick Step, +45sec
Jonas Vingegaard, Visma-Lease A Bike, +50sec
Juan Ayuso, UAE Team Emirates, +1min 10sec
Primoz Roglic, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, +1min 14sec
12:13 PM BST
Front page of L’Equipe
After Tadej Pogacar put 45 seconds on his nearest rival yesterday, here is the front page of L’Equipe this morning:
La vraie prise de pouvoir
La une du journal L'Équipe de ce mercredi 3 juillet. Lire l'édition > https://t.co/8pCPKxDYZs pic.twitter.com/UPw5eMguX9— L'ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) July 3, 2024
12:09 PM BST
Mark Cavendish speaking to ITV
The Manx missile missed out on the historic 35th stage win at the Tour on stage three on Monday but could today be the day he can do it? Let us hear from the man himself now ahead of today’s stage:
"We have to prepare like it's the first time we've ever done it"
Mark Cavendish has tasted Tour victory in the department of Ain before, he took win number 30 in 2016 in Villars-les-Dombes Parc des Oiseaux 🇮🇲🚀#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/ege6gDn4zA— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 3, 2024
12:02 PM BST
Stage five profile
11:34 AM BST
Is today the day for number 35?
Good morning and welcome to stage five of the 2024 Tour de France. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) starts stage five in yellow after claiming victory into Valloire on stage four yesterday. The Slovenian attacked inside the final kilometre up the iconic Col du Galibier to take a small lead over the top over Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) only to extend that advantage on the descent. Pogacar now leads by 45 seconds at the top of the general classification ahead of Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) and 50 seconds ahead of Vingegaard. The plan worked, according to Pogacar.
“This was more or less the plan and we executed it truly well,” Pogacar said after his 12th career stage win at the Tour. “I wanted to hit hard today. I know this stage really well. I’ve been training here many days. It felt like a home stage.
“I had confidence in the start, I had good legs, and I had to try it. I know the downhill but I was a little bit surprised to see wet road in the first few corners. So it was a little bit scary.”
Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) began stage four in yellow but lost over five minutes to Pogacar on stage four having been dropped up the Galibier.
Stage five today should be a day for the sprinters as the peloton will travel 177.4km from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint Vulbas. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) won the first sprint stage in Turin on Monday to become the first black African to win a stage at the Tour. Having failed to do so on stage three, Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) will aim to win an historic 35th stage at the Tour today. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) will be one of the favourites for the sprint today, having won four stages at the Tour in 2023 and two in 2022. Others to look out for include Arnaud de Lie (Lotto Dstny), Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-Alula) and Fabio Jakobsen (Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL).