Astana Qazaqstan have launched an in depth behind-the-scenes video wanting inside ‘Venture 35’ and their pursuit of a record-breaking Tour de France stage win with Mark Cavendish.
Within the video posted to the workforce’s YouTube web page, they deal with moments main as much as Cavendish’s successful second on stage 5 into Saint-Vulbas, from his crash out of the 2023 Tour with a damaged collarbone to his struggles within the warmth on the opening stage of this yr’s race.
Cavendish broke the document he held alongside Eddy Merckx for successful probably the most phases of the Tour de France, with each on 34 previous to Asatan Qazaqstan’s large day, when their funding to usher in a lead-out practice, a coach and a DS that each one knew methods to get the perfect out of him received it proper as soon as extra.
“I could not have hoped for, wished for, spending my time with higher folks than I’ve right here,” mentioned Cavendish within the video as he celebrated on the workforce bus with workforce workers and his household.
“Thanks all for the assumption, for each single minute you have all put into this.”
The video options interviews with Cavendish himself, his spouse Peta and directeur sportif and former final lead-out man Mark Renshaw. However the sprinter additionally sits down to speak with the core of his lead-out practice, Cees Bol, Davide Ballerini and Michael Mørkøv after they helped him dwelling on the torrid opening stage and delivered him to a spot the place he had an opportunity at victory on stage 5.
There’s a fantastic look into ways on the workforce bus, debriefs after the dash phases and the way the likes of Renshaw and Mørkøv coordinated the complete workforce as leaders across the final aim of Cavendish’s triumph.
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“Tour de France sprints aren’t gained within the final kilometres, they’re gained when you possibly can have a neater day within the peloton and you’ve got waited for me and simply shepherded me,” he mentioned. “You may’t think about how particular that’s, no person in actual life can perceive the bond that creates.
“The thanks I owe you for that, greater than any lead-out, it is that shit goes above and past and that is the place we win and lose and for that, I owe you for the remainder of my life.”
The video would not finish with Cavendish’s record-breaking victory and particulars the remainder of Astana Qazaqstan’s Tour, the place their focus largely switched to bringing the Manxman again to Good so he might end the race, his remaining Tour.
With Mørkøv abandoning and time cuts being carefully fought within the Alps, that they had some robust days within the remaining two weeks however it all culminated in an emotional finish to Cavendish’s remaining lap round France on the race he cherished and championed most.
There have been tears on the summit of the Col de la Couillole when he accomplished his final mountain stage and he received to benefit from the adoring crowds one final time in Good, with the workforce boss who took a threat on signing him – Alexander Vinokourov – driving the automobile following him, earlier than having his personal second on the rostrum because the race recognised him for his contribution to the Tour.
Cavendish remains to be as a result of retire from biking on the finish of the season, nevertheless, will nonetheless be seen within the peloton on the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium on November 10 and has mentioned in latest weeks that he’ll stay in biking in a administration function.
Watch the near-40 minute behind-the-scenes video directed, filmed and edited by Michiel van der Meer on Astana’s YouTube.
🎥 PROJECT 35An formidable challenge that only a few believed in.We succeeded and introduced @MarkCavendish to his record-breaking thirty fifth stage victory at @LeTour!Venture 35 was completed, and now you’ve gotten the possibility to be careful how we made it occur:https://t.co/Hq8X4p4Nkw pic.twitter.com/x0TTG0JLvMOctober 21, 2024
