"Pogacar is so versatile that he can win on all types of terrain... It is not impossible" - Expert analyses chances to beat Mark Cavendish's Tour de France stage record

Earlier this summer, Mark Cavendish made cycling history by securing his record breaking 35th Tour de France stage victory, surpassing the long held record of the great Eddy Merckx in the process. Could the modern day 'Cannibal' Tadej Pogacar soon go even better though?

According to four-time Tour de France stage winner Michael Rasmussen, it's not an unlikely prospect despite the obvious difficulties the Slovenian would have to overcome. "Pogacar is so versatile that he can win on all types of terrain," Rasmussen notes in conversation with Viaplay. "But it seems unlikely that he would keep the same statistics as this year with six stage wins in one Tour. It requires several years at that level, but it is not impossible."

So far, Pogacar has bagged a total of 17 stages at the Tour de France including, as mentioned by Rasmussen, six stage victories en route to securing a third Maillot Jaune in 2024. Despite his brilliance over recent years at the French Grand Tour though, the fact remains that the UAE Team Emirates leader is still less than halfway to Cavendish's lofty total. Something that will get harder to catch as Pogacar gets older Rasmussen believes.

"It is significantly more difficult to win the stages that Pogacar wins than the ones Cavendish has taken - regardless of how easy Pogacar made it look this year," the Dane notes. "Typically, there are more stages that suit the sprinters than the mountain riders."

If Pogacar can keep his current form going, it's certainly not an unattainable goal and with the Slovenian vocal about his quest to become the greatest rider of all time, the Tour de France stage victory record would be another string to his bow. What do you think? Will Tadej Pogacar end his career with more than 35 Tour de France stage victories? Let us know your thoughts!