Few riders in the peloton will be happier than Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep) to be back at the Tour de France. One year ago the prolific Manxman sprinter's bid to claim the maillot jaune on home soil in the opening stage in Harrogate ended with a terrible crash. Now looking for redemption, the 30-year-old says he comes to Utrecht in the same form as last year in Yorkshire.
"I missed this race a lot after the crash from last year. It's great to be here in Utrecht for the start of the 2015 Tour de France," Mark Cavendish said at the press conference on the eve of the Tour de France start in the Dutch city. The Manxman sat in the middle of the team and together with time trial specialist Tony Martin he received most attention on Friday afternoon.
"I've had this similar run-up to what I had last year before the Tour de France. I was in incredible form last year. I wanted to replicate that coming into this Tour de France so that I would be in the same condition like I was last year. I've been lucky with not being ill, or injured or anything. I'm super happy. I've done everything I can to prepare well for this Tour de France."
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Cavendish isn't mourning the absence of Marcel Kittel (Giant-Alpecin), who replaced Cavendish as top sprinter in the 2014 Tour de France, winning won four stages. The Manxman swerved away from the subject of Kittel and talked about his team instead.
"There's nearly 200 riders at the start. Take any of them away and it'll increase my chances to win. We're here with Etixx-QuickStep. We've got guys who can win on all 21 stages. We're here with a super team who can win the time trial, the sprints, on the climbs and on the cobbles."
A journalist asked him if he was motivated to come level or surpass Bernard Hinault, the legendary French rider who managed to win 28 stages at the Tour de France, ranking second behind Eddy Merckx. For now Cavendish captured 25 stage wins in the Tour de France. "I'm not coming to the Tour de France to beat Hinault. [...] I'd like to add more than one stage. We want to win multiple stages but it doesn't necessarily have to be me. We want a successful Tour de France as a team," Cavendish said.
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