Mark Cavendish targets more glory after Tour de France stage win

 
3 July 2012

Mark Cavendish was chasing further success in the world champion's rainbow jersey as the Tour de France continued today.

The 197-kilometre third stage from Orchies to Boulougne-sur-Mer features a punishing six categorised climbs in the final 70km and is likely to produce further drama after Cavendish's first win of the 2012 Tour yesterday.

Cavendish dispelled any doubts - whether in his own mind or others' - over his finishing speed by winning the 207.5km second stage from Vise to Tournai.

For Cavendish, whose priority this summer is the Olympic Games road race on July 28, his 21st Tour stage win was also his first for British squad Team Sky, his first outside of France and a maiden victory as world champion.

"Every race since I've won this jersey I've wanted to show this jersey and show why I'm worthy to wear it," Cavendish said.

"I really wanted to do it honour this year and that means winning wherever I can go.

"It's very, very special. Every day in training, every day in racing, maybe once every few minutes I look down, I see the rainbow bands and it gives me a great sense of pride.

"I have massive respect for this jersey, I have massive respect for every rider who has ever worn this jersey."

Unlike in Copenhagen last September, when Cavendish became world champion with the full support of the British team, the Manxman was an isolated figure yesterday, forced to show his supreme bike-handling ability to infiltrate other teams' leadout trains before rounding Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) to win ahead of the German and Matt Goss (Orica-GreenEdge).

Team Sky's resources are concentrated on Bradley Wiggins' overall bid and the Londoner remained seven seconds behind race leader Fabian Cancellara in second overall.

"We knew it was going to be hard here this year," Cavendish said.

"I always say I wanted to make history. There are not many better ways to make history than by being part of a team winning the Tour de France with a British rider.

"It was always going to be difficult to win stages and if anything it made me more relaxed.

"In the past I always had a dedicated team to a sprinter. With a team I should win most of the time so there was always that pressure to win.

"It's difficult without a team to win here, so I was like 'give it a shot and see what happens, if you don't win, you don't win'. "We've got bigger things to try for."

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