Cavendish in must-win situation for Tour's green jersey

Mark Cavendish wins Tour de France 2010, stage 6

Mark Cavendish is in a 'must win' situation to take the Tour de France's green jersey. His next chance comes tomorrow, the last of three possible sprint stages.

"We can't go and try to collect every point on the road, that's not realistic," said HTC-Columbia's sports director, Rolf Aldag, "The main goal is try to win stages and then the jersey comes or it doesn't."

After a rough start to the Tour de France, Cavendish won two stages and seems to be back up to the winning ways that gained him a remarkable six stage wins last year. However, time is running out for Cavendish to make up his 39-point deficit to leader Thor Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam), who leads by 124 to 85.

"If Cav wins and Thor doesn't do anything, then that's the only way we can be back in the game. It's not going to happen if Cav wins and Thor gets fourth."

Organisers award 35 points for the win and the following points for second through 25th: 30, 26, 24, 22, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. In addition to Hushovd's win at Arenberg, he has consistently finished in the top places for points.

Cavendish survived the last stages through the Jura and Alpine mountains and he is now ready for the challenge.

"I had some great guys around me and I could draw you an image of Bernie Eisel's calves right now - I've seen a lot of them in the last few days. It was just about getting through it," said Cavendish this morning.

He said that he is aiming for a win in tomorrow 184.5-kilometre stage to Bourg-Les-Valence.

"It's the first sprint day for a few days and we'll do our best for a win."

Aldag added that Cavendish will also try on the stages to Bordeaux and Paris, the last two chances for sprinters. Even without more wins, though, he said that Cavendish should be satisfied.

"Any other rider would be happy with only one stage in the Tour. He already has won two, so it cannot be considered a disaster."

Cavendish started the Tour de France with the goal to win the green jersey, but with Aldag he had to re-assess after missing out in the first sprint stages. Regardless of winning the green jersey, they will re-focus after the Tour de France and aim for the rainbow jersey at the World Championships on October 3 in Geelong, Australia.

Tour de France 2010: Latest news

Wiggins to aim for Tour de France stage win?

Dan Lloyd battles on in Tour despite groin strain

Bradley Wiggins: Tour rest day conference

Evans faces rough ride in yellow

Riis secures replacement sponsor but Shleck in doubt

Tour de France 2010: rest day review (July 12)

Armstrong's Tour de France dream ends

Sky's objective clear ahead of Tour's high mountains

The Feed Zone (July 10): Tour de France news and views

Thomas: 'Yellow jersey would be unbelievable

Analysis: The role of Renshaw

Cavendish strikes back in Tour de France

Thomas happy with Tour's white jersey; but says 'All for Brad'

Wiggins crashes on Tour stage start

Cavendish and Farrar return to top

Cavendish keeps up fight for first Tour win

Sky delivers Boasson Hagen to third without pressure

Tour de France 2010: Stage reports

Stage nine: Casar wins stage as Schleck and Contador go head-to-head

Stage seven: Chavanel wins stage and takes overall as Thomas drops out of Tour's white

Stage six: Cavendish makes it two as Tour hots up

Stage five: Cavendish wins his first stage of Tour

Stage four: Petacchi wins into Reims

Stage three: Hushovd takes dramatic win; Thomas second on stage and GC

Stage three live coverage: As it happened

Stage two: Comeback man Chavanel takes victory in Spa

Stage one: Petacchi wins in Brussels as bunch left in tatters

Prologue: Cancellara pips Martin to win

Tour de France 2010: Photos

Stage nine photo gallery

Stage eight photo gallery

Tour 2010 wallpaper

Stage seven photo gallery

Stage six photo gallery

Stage five photo gallery

Stage four photo gallery

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one gallery

Prologue photo gallery

Tour de France 2010: Videos

Stage nine video highlights

Stage eight video highlights

Stage seven video highlights

Stage six video highlights

Stage five video highlights

Stage four video highlights

Stage three video highlights

Stage two video highlights

Stage one video highlights

Prologue video highlights

Tour de France 2010: Race guide

Tour de France 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

Official start list, with race numbers

Brits at the Tour 2010

Tout team guide

Tour jerseys: What they are and what they mean

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Wiggins

Tour de France 2010: Pictures

Tour team presentation, Rotterdam

Tour teams take to the cobbles: Photo special

 

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