Jens Voigt about Mark Cavendish's chances of riding Tour de France in July: "I think he needs to win at least two stages at Giro"

Former cyclist Jens Voigt told Eurosport that he believes Mark Cavendish needs two stage wins at the Giro d’Italia to convince his team to give him a spot in their Tour de France squad.

He said: “I love him to pieces. Cav needs to win two stages in a really convincing style to make Astana believe in him to go to the Tour de France, which starts in the Basque country with three tough stages until the first sprint so you have to survive that first to be able to sprint.”

Reflecting on a successful but eventful career so far for Cavendish, Voigt added: “I wish nothing more than for Cav to go to the Tour. He has done it so many times and so many miracle comebacks, Epstein-Barr virus, terrible crashes, broken bones, coming back and kicking ass, I wish he can do it one last time."

"But every fairy tale and miracle has to end somehow. He needs to win two stages by a bike length and convincing for Astana to be like, he’s ready, we take him to the Tour," Voigt concludes his take. The Manxman is currently racing the Giro d'Italia, but the lack of a leadout will severely hamper his chances of succeeding.