"I’m a very, very happy person" - Dream finale for Mark Cavendish's career-long goal of breaking Tour de France record

The 35th stage win at the Tour de France has finally come about for Mark Cavendish. The Manx Missile has worked towards this goal throughout over decade and a half and over the past few years it often looked like the dream was unrealistic or even over. It required tremendous tenacity, patience and belief to make it this far but this Wednesday Cavendish has become an official individual record holder.

"I’m not someone who celebrates by throwing a party or doing something crazy. I just want to be with everyone who has helped make what we’ve done happen. I’m a very, very happy person," Cavendish admitted in an interview with Wielerflits. "I have an incredible team with Astana Qazaqstan. An incredible group of friends and teammates, especially an incredible family. I’m so grateful that we’re here. My family came here last night, then they went to the start and finish. It always means so much to me when they’re on the race, so they can win with me.”

Astana has put on a massive display of confidence in Cavendish over the past year and a half; signing him last minute, signing Sporting Director, coach and leadout from previous years and providing him with full support into the Tour de France despite the difficult season he's had. Cavendish has completely changed his way of working this year to fit 'modern cycling's standards better and all of these factors payed off on stage 5 of the Tour as he beat Jasper Philipsen in the final sprint.

It is the end of what the team has termed 'Project 35', which will ultimately be the highlight of it's season, and what the team worked on the most. “I'm really happy about that. I've been away from home so often… When I've been home for three weeks this year, it's been a lot. Being away, training, racing. Not just me, all my teammates. Everyone has put so much energy into this project."

There were many words both from him and figures from throughout all the peloton as he succeeded in this historic feat, and he has no problem in complementing the competitors that have made this a challenge, alongside all those who thanked him at the finish line in Saint-Vulbas yesterday. “I feel very privileged that I have had the opportunity to share the peloton with riders in recent years that I will remain a fan of after my own career, when I see them on TV."

" But the vast majority of the riders said: ‘I hope you can take that stage win here’, and things like that. That makes me really emotional… There is an incredibly good group of riders in both the men's and women's peloton. That is the future of our sport. I am proud that I can soon say that they were my opponents before I quit.”