“When we talk numbers, Merckx is 525 victories. Mark has 165” - Oliver Naesen on comparisons between Eddy Merckx & Mark Cavendish

Although his place in Tour de France history has long been assured, Mark Cavendish confirmed himself as the greatest stage winner in the history of cycling's most famous race earlier this week, completing his 'Project 35'.

Overtaking the legendary Eddy Merckx as the man with the most stage wins in Tour de France history, Cavendish's win brought a smile to many in the cycling community. In terms of who's stage win tally is most impressive between Merckx's 34 and Cavendish's 35 continues to rumble on.

“Times are different now, of course,” Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale's Oliver Naesen told Velo following Cavendish's history making triumph in Saint Vulbas on Wednesday afternoon. “Today it’s way harder to win so much, and the era during which Cavendish did it all is just incredible. We are speaking of two completely different eras. Mark is the GOAT of sprinters. He is the greatest sprinter of all time by far. When we talk numbers, Merckx is 525 victories. Mark has 165. That is an incredible number. Sprinter-wise, he is the greatest of all time.”

Whilst all of Cavendish's victories have come in bunch sprints, Merckx took wins in various different manners. It must be mentioned however, that three positive doping tests hang a cloud over Merckx somewhat despite his iconic status. Cavendish meanwhile has never tested positive for a banned substance.

“When Merckx raced, he was doing 120 days or more. Cycling has changed. Tadej Pogacar wins a lot, but he will never reach those numbers,” Naesen analyses. “The greatest of today, they do 50 race-day seasons. Just mathematically it is not possible to achieve those numbers anymore. Those days of Merckx are over, and those numbers will never repeat.”

“I remember being a junior when Cavendish won his first stages. I raced home from school to watch him win his sprints on TV, and that I am here today, what is he [39]? He is still winning, it is just unheard of, unseen,” Naesen concludes. “The top sprinters just have a period of when they No. 1, maybe one, two, or three years. With Cavendish it is two decades. It is just insane.”