Mark Cavendish tired of Tour de France 'chicken pox'
Etixx-Quick-Step sprinter Mark Cavendish bemoans the number of climbs between now and the final Tour de France stage in Paris
Sprinters hate mountains and Mark Cavendish is no exception.
The Manxman took to Twitter before Thursday's stage 18 bemoaning the number of red dots on the route profile, which indicate categorised climbs.
With seven climbs on the 186.5km route from Gap to Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne, Cavendish noted that the route map had chicken pox and said he was sick of the mountain stages already.
Luckily there are only two more mountainous stages left before Cavendish returns to his second home of the Champs-Elysees, although his chances of another final stage win took a dent as Mark Renshaw dropped out of the race.
Cavendish's trusty leadout man abandoned the race around the halfway mark of stage 18, leaving the 26-time stage winner with just five teammates after Michal Kwiatkowski quit on Wednesday.
The Etixx-Quick-Step fast man will rely on Zdenek Stybar, Michal Golas, Matteo Trentin, Rigoberto Uran and Julien Vermote to lead him to the finish line if he is to win his fifth final-stage win.
Take a look at Mark Cavendish's Tour de France bike
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
Enough already with the F1-inspired pit stops in gravel races: a call for self-sufficiency
The spirit of adventure, resourcefulness and inclusivity is diluted to the point where we risk losing sight of the qualities that made the discipline so unique.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel extends with Alpecin-Deceuninck until the end of 2028
Dutchman inks new five-year deal after team's second triumph at Milan-San Remo last weekend with Jasper Philipsen
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Astana go all in on Cavendish in his final season, but will the confidence pay off?
The Kazakh team have bet big on the 38-year-old sprinter. Both they and Cavendish need 2024 to work
By Adam Becket Published
-
Mark Cavendish wins his first race in final season after perfect leadout in Tour Colombia
The Briton fended off the challenge of home rider Fernando Gaviria on stage four of the Tour Colombia
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Mark Cavendish forced to settle for third in 2024 season opener in Colombia
Astana Qazaqstan rider says Tour Colombia stage one result ‘best debut race for a few years’
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish seeking aerobic gains at altitude before focusing on high intensity work ahead of new season
Astana head coach Vasilis Anastopoulos: ‘Cavendish is currently doing lots of hours in the saddle and only short sessions of more intensive work’
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish: Altitude training is essential in order to stay at the top of modern cycling
British sprinter will start 2024 season at Tour Colombia in February and will also include two altitude camps in plan
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish reveals details of first race in 2024
Astana Qazaqstan rider will line up at the Tour Colombia after altitude camp in country
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish 'in shock' at 'toughest' Tour de France route
Astana Qazaqstan rider will have to tackle "hard" race if he wants to break the stage win record
By Adam Becket Published
-
Incoming Astana performance chief to replicate Quick-Step Mark Cavendish lead-out train
‘I’m very optimistic, I think it’s going to work’ Vasilis Anastopoulos on his new plans for Cavendish ahead of next year’s Tour de France record attempt
By Tom Thewlis Published