Cavendish, who received his first Tour de France stage in 2008, has loved a glittering profession as a sprinter, taking victories on the flatter, quicker phases of races, significantly within the Grand Excursions.
He has received 165 races since 2005 and the factors classification in any respect three Grand Excursions.
Cavendish’s different main achievements embrace an omnium silver medal on the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 2011 Street World Championships rainbow jersey, the 2009 Milan-San Remo ‘monument’ one-day basic, 17 stage wins within the Giro d’Italia and three within the Vuelta a Espana.
He additionally received three world observe titles within the madison and gold within the scratch race on the 2006 Commonwealth Video games, representing the Isle of Man.
Having not received on the Tour since 2018, Cavendish first hinted at retirement on the finish of the 2020 season however returned to kind the next yr – profitable 4 Tour phases and the inexperienced jersey in his second spell with the profitable Fast-Step crew.
Cavendish and his household have been the victims of a violent theft at their house in 2021.
In any case his setbacks, he surpassed Merckx with a sensational dash to blast previous his rivals in Saint Vulbas.
Reacting to Cavendish’s historic win, former team-mate and good buddy Geraint Thomas stated: “It is unbelievable, I’m tremendous joyful for him. It’s nice he has the file alone and isn’t sharing it with anybody.”
Though Cavendish was not capable of win one other stage, he efficiently made the time lower all through the mountain phases to make sure he accomplished the Tour for the eighth time in his 15 appearances.
“You’re going to go down as the best of all time,” stated 2012 Tour winner and five-time Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins in a video message to Cavendish.
“There will not be many GOATs on the planet however you might be actually one in all them and I’m so joyful for you and the household.”
4-time Tour winner Chris Froome added: “Congratulations on a tremendous profession, you’ve impressed so many individuals, together with myself.”