“The times they are doing in team pursuit is unfathomable” - Mark Cavendish blown away by the times posted on the track at Paris Olympics

At the 2024 Tour de France, Mark Cavendish wrote the final chapter of his legendary story in cycling's most iconic race, taking sole ownership of the Tour de France stage win record ahead of Eddy Merckx with his 35th sprint win in Saint Vulbas on stage 5.

Whilst the three-time Olympian and former silver medallist in the omnium back at the 2016 Rio Olympics, isn't part of either the track or road teams for Great Britain in Paris this summer, the 39-year-old joined Eurosport in the French capital to reflect on his memories on the biggest sporting event in the world and give his analysis of what he has seen this year.

“The times they are doing in team pursuit both men and women is unfathomable,” Cavendish tells Orla Chennaoui. “It’s so crazy, they are all on such a limit where if you put it one little bit further everything can go bad and that is what has made it exciting again. The British lads did incredible but the Aussies broke the world record with a time that is hard to comprehend when I started doing it years ago."

“The girls, of course they miss Katie [Archibald, who is out with injury]. She would have walked away from this Olympics with three gold medals, but they went out and they did it and have come home with a medal," the 'Manx Missile' continues. "The girls got that world record in the team sprint too and they have been working for years and years to get bigger like that and it’s great to see. Across the board we always have a strong track team and that has not changed here, other nations have stepped up, it’s not because we have gone backwards.”

Whilst Cavendish is more fondly remembered for his performance in the road and in the bunch sprints, his track career is nothing to be sniffed at. The aforementioned silver medal from the Olympic Games in 2016 plus a trio of Madison world titles in 2005, 2008 and 2016 respectively.

“Track cycling at the Olympics is the pinnacle," he explained. "I am proud to be British and I am super proud every time I put on that jersey. There is no bigger stage to pull on that jersey than the Olympics. You really feel the whole country is there supporting you and willing this event with you. It is special. It’s nice to do.”