“He will risk it all for that one stage" - Adam Hansen confident Mark Cavendish can take historic victory at the Tour de France

Astana Qazaqstan Team's Tour de France lineup has been announced and as expected, Mark Cavendish has been granted a final chance to take sole control of the Tour de France stage win record.

“He will risk it all for that one stage. I wouldn’t be surprised if he just won and then walked home. Win a stage, break the record, hang up his wheels,” says his former teammate Adam Hansen in conversation with the British newspaper i. “I really hope he gets 35. I hope he breaks the record. Nothing to do with Merckx, I just personally know Cav. He’s always a laugh, a good character, and just loves riding his bike. He deserves it.”

Hansen and Cavendish worked together at the 2008 Tour de France, with the Manx Missile taking four stage wins as he announced himself on the biggest stage of the sport. “I wish him the best,” continues the 42-year-old Australian who now heads up the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés, cyclist's union.

Cavendish will be supported by more of a sprint train at the Tour de France than he received at the Giro d'Italia, when he had to wait until the final stage and needed help from his old friend Geraint Thomas, to take a sole stage win at the race.