Mark Cavendish's message to Michael Morkov following Covid-19 positive: "For me above any bike race is that his long-term health is not compromised"

Astana Qazaqstan Team have had a successful Tour de France as they have achieved the stage win they looked for with Mark Cavendish. He and Michael Morkov have in different years teamed up together to hunt this historic feat and much of Cavendish's current position in cycling is owed to the Dane. Morkov tested positive for Covid-19 and abandoned the Tour this morning, so the Manxman's words were mostly dedicated to his teammate at the start of the stage.

"Obviously we've got to adapt, it's real unfortunately," Cavendish said in words to ITV Cycling at the start of the stage in Aurillac. "On a professional level he is a big part of the team, he is a team captain, he's a road captain, he's my final leadout man... On a personal level he's one of the my closest friends. And for that reason I rather him be healthy and ripe, he's got an incredible family at home a wife and three children, announced his retirement last week."

Cavendish has however already taken the victory the looked for in this race and is no longer in urgent need of the best support possible in the race. In the sprint that he won, the Manx Missile was virtually isolated in the finale whilst he did not contest for a top result in any of the other sprints in the race. But Morkov's role in these chaotic finales continued to be very important for the Kazakh team's objectives and mainly their chances of taking another triumph.

Above all Cavendish hopes for the recovery of his teammate and friend. Meanwhile, he will seek another win in today's 12th stage of the race. "For me above any bike race is that his long-term health is not compromised when he gets back to living a normal life. We have to regroup and try to adapt."