Geraint Thomas happy and impressed for former teammate Mark Cavendish: "He's unbelievable and I wouldn't put it past him to win another one"

Geraint Thomas and Mark Cavendish are riders of the same generation who continue to thrive in a cycling that has evolved beyond most of their age. Thomas continues to impress as a stage-racer and his former teammate and compatriot Cavendish has impressed him by winning once again at the Tour de France, beating Eddy Merckx' stage win record.

"It's unbelievable. Super happy for him. To continue to do what he does at his age – he's 39 and everyone says you get slower as you get older – he's proven that wrong, really. It's unbelievable what he does and I'm super happy for him," Thomas said to Cyclingnews following the stage.

Thomas is on a role supporting the leaders of INEOS Grenadiers in this race - he himself showing good form in the early days of the race - but on this Wednesday there was little work for him to do on a flat stage. So following the finale, his attention was on Cavendish who had crossed the line first.

"I thought he could. I called it on my pod anyway, so if you'd listen then you'd know. He always suffers, he always has a bad day in the mountains or whatever. I always knew he could get through it with a good team around him, all committed to him," he continued. "He just has to be there and see the finish line, you know? He's always got a shout for the win. It's unbelievable. It's great that he's got that record alone now, not sharing it with anyone. Chapeau."

This is the finale of a career-long chase of a record that has stood for decades, and is likely to stand a few more now. Thomas jokes that if Cavendish actually won in this Tour he should just retire from the sport immediatelly (something that now would not come with many doubts.

"I told him that in the ASO briefing, 'Mate, if you win this stage, just drop your bike and walk away'. "But he's like 'Nah, lad. If I win the first one, then I'll want to win more.' He's definitely going to hang around, isn't he? He's unbelievable and I wouldn't put it past him to win another one."