In 2021, Mark Cavendish rode the Tour de France as a replacement for an injured Sam Bennett. The Manx Missile came into the race on 30 Tour de France victories, four short of the all-time record of 34, set by the Cannibal - Eddy Merckx.
The form guide said he was just there to be a member of the peleton, the fact his last victory was in 2018 said it all. The doubters were on his back, the old man was past it... However, after 7 podiums at the Tour of Turkey, a victory at the Belgium and a good handful of podium in the 2021 season, could Mark have a shot at the Merckx record?
In real life, Mark would equal the record with a sprint in Carcassonne but would sadly see history go up in smoke on the streets of Paris... however can the Manx Missile make history in PCM - only one way to find out!
.:Story Information:.
I will run the story using the newly released A.S.O. 2021 DB by OlegTinkov. The official 2021 Tour de France will be used, and thanks to Oleg I will be able to use the 2021 Tour de France startlist.
Focus will be on the sprint stage involving Mark, but I will cover all stages in the story. Let's see if we can make history
Personaly I think it won't work because Ewan probably won't crash out on the first flat stage, AI will let WVA sprint more often and Alpecin will go for Merlier instead of Philipsen
Personaly I think it won't work because Ewan probably won't crash out on the first flat stage, AI will let WVA sprint more often and Alpecin will go for Merlier instead of Philipsen
There are a lot of different factors, but all adds to the challenge / fun! I have tried things like this in the past with mixed results (Dumoulin winning Pink at the Giro, Cav getting Yellow at the Tour in Yorkshire etc.) and factors have played their part.
The 2021 Tour de France starts in the west of the country, with the Grand Depart in Brest, Brittany before taking on four stage in the Departement. Stages 1 and 2 will be for the Puncheurs of the peleton, as they tackle the Côte de la Fosse aux Loups and Mûr-de-Bretagne on consecutive days. It is Stages 3 and 4 that will be the first opportunities for the Sprinters, with a fast finish into Pontivy and Fougères respectively. Fougères was where Mark Cavendish took victory in 2015, so let's hope history will repeat itself.
Stage 5 will be a ITT around Laval, before we see another Cavendish historic finish with Chateauroux hosting the Stage 6 finish, the scene of his first TdF win in 2008. The longest stage of the Tour arrives on Stage 7, before the Mountains arrive into Le Grand Bornand on Stage 9. Tignes is back on Stage 10 after the snow storms and landslides of 2019 wrecked its showcase stage finale, and this will be the last stage before the first rest day.
A sprint finish should be expected after the first rest Day in Valance, ahead of the big day and double ascent of Mont Ventoux on Stage 11. This could be the first real day where the grupetto will be worried about the time cuts and hoping to make it to the finish on time.
Those that remain on Stage 12 will have a sprint finish into Nimes on Stage 12, before another follows on Stage 13 to Carcassonne. A hilly day where the GC men will need to be careful and the sprinters will be worried again will come on Stage 14 to Quillan, before the stage into Andorra and the 2nd Rest Day awaits.
Saint-Gaudens, Col du Portet and Luz Ardiden are a treat for the spectators but not some riders in the peleton on Stages 16, 17 and 18 ahead of journey into the Red Wine region of France for Stages 19 and 20 in Libourne. Stage 20 will be the 2nd ITT of the race, and will confirm the overall winner of the 2021 Tour de France ahead of the procession into Paris on the final stage.
The Champs-Elysees will again host the end of the Tour, with the sprinters with any energy in the legs going for the biggest win on the calendar.
.:The Manx Missile: Target Merckx:. Recap of Stages 1-3
Landerneau, 26 June 2021
Opening stage and the first battle for Yellow. Van Aert, Alaphilippe, Roglic, Van der Poel, Pogacar... everyone of them a favourite for the stage into Landerneau.
The peleton set off under sunny skies, and the Grand Depart from Brest was underway. It took a while, but eventually a group of three formed the day's breakaway. Fabien Doubey (TEN), Sergio Henao (TQA) and Michael Schar (ACT) all present, but only after several different riders had taken the points on the various KoM climbs of the day. Cavendish would take 4th at the intermediate sprint, opening his account for the Green Jersey.
Caught with still 60km to go, it was never going to be a day for the break, and with a fast peleton riding along the hills of Brittany, there were several incidents in the group, including GC favourite Tadej Pogacar (UAD). The Slovenian was a little banged up but it was a worry for the team.
Running into the finish, the favourites came to the front, with Asgreen leading out Alaphilippe, Dan Martin and Mike Woods (ISN) pair together and Van Aert looking after Roglic (TJV). Surfing the wheels was Van der Poel (AFC), and on the lower slopes of Côte de la Fosse aux Loups, the Dutchman attacked, opening a gap. Julian tried to kick with him, but was always chasing the wheel and as Van der Poel went again. Wearing the commemorative jersey to honour his Grandfather, he would take an historic Yellow Jersey, crossing the line 20" ahead of Alaphilippe and Woods.
Stage 1 Result
1
Mathieu Van Der Poel
Alpecin-Fenix
4h21'40
2
Julian Alaphilippe
Deceuninck - Quick-Step
+ 20
3
Michael Woods
Israel Start-Up Nation
s.t.
Mûr-de-Bretagne, 27 June 2021
Stage 2 and the double ascent of the Mûr-de-Bretagne will be tackled by the peleton. The second ascent will be the finish, with all the same protagonists hunting the stage win again.
Just two riders were allowed to break from the peleton over the opening kilometers of stage 2. Nic Dlamini (TQA) and Anthony Delaplace (ARK) were the ticket winners, and anyone other than these two would be chased back instantly. The pair shared the opening KoMs on the stage, with Delaplace taking the third, all worth a solitary point on each climb. It would be another 4th place at the Intermediate Sprint for Cav, with Van der Poel potentially making his claim for Green with 3rd place out of the peleton.
The break would not make it much past the intermediate sprint, and despite a late attack from Mattia Cattaneo, it would again be the same battle from Stage 1 on the slopes of the Mûr. Van der Poel tried to make a move over the first ascent, but was pulled back by Asgreen working for Julian, and it would be the Dutchman making the first moves on the second ascent as well. He wouldn't have the same legs today though, and as Julian made his bid for glory, he would be just beaten on the line by a fast finishing Primoz Roglic.
No serious time gaps, so Van der Poel retains Yellow, as he would cross the line in 3rd place.
Stage 2 Results
1
Primož Roglic
Jumbo-Visma
4h09'45
2
Julian Alaphilippe
Deceuninck - Quick-Step
s.t.
3
Mathieu Van Der Poel
Alpecin-Fenix
+ 5
Pontivy, 28 June 2021
Stage 3 and the first sprint stage of the race. The first chance for Cav to get a win under his belt and move closer to the magic number 34. Will this be number 31 today?
More sunny skies in Brittany, and the peleton rolled out of Lorient with smiles on their faces. Just another pair of riders were allowed up the road, with Sean Bennett (TQA) being the third Qhubeka rider on the attack in 3 days, and was joined by Dmitriy Gruzdev (APT). The pair worked well to build up a lead of 4 minutes before the chase began. They shared the two Cat. 4 climbs on the day, gaining a point each in the KoM standings, before Bennett took the Intermediate sprint. The peleton sprint was won by Demare, ahead of Ewan and Cavendish.
Bennett would be dropped shortly after the 2nd KoM of the day, and Gruzdev would hang on until the 16km mark before he was pulled back into the peleton led by Deceuninck and Lotto Soudal. A 5 man lead out for our Manx Missile was in place, with Morkov the final lead out man running into the finish. Opening the sprint, it would be Caleb Ewan (LTS) taking the win, ahead of Mathieu Van Der Poel (AFC) and Mark Cavendish in 3rd place.
Wait... VdP finishes ahead of most sprinters? What's his sprint stat??? Of course, the bumpy finale surely suited him, but still...
Too bad you couldn't transform your great leadout into a win, but fortunately the next chance is coming soon
Fabianski wrote:
Wait... VdP finishes ahead of most sprinters? What's his sprint stat??? Of course, the bumpy finale surely suited him, but still...
Too bad you couldn't transform your great leadout into a win, but fortunately the next chance is coming soon
Alpecin gave him a full lead out, with Merlier and Phillipsen going full gas at the end. Stats are 78sp/82acc with 80sta, 81rec and 82fla - he is a beast in Oleg's DB
Ollfardh wrote:
Yeah Ewan, was to be expected. But IRL this one went to Merlier, so no harm done yet!
Ewan was to be expected, although the Van der Poel wasn't. No worries so far. Plenty of opportunities and unlike real life, Cav did make the finish of this one to contest it.
Stage 4 and the next opportunities for Cavendish to take a stage win. He had won in Fougères in 2015, so a repeat performance would be welcomed here.
A group of 2 riders were allowed up the road (shock horror so far in this year's Tour!!) as Sean Bennett (TQA) and Miles Scotson (GFC) were allow free by the peleton. Yet again, anything more than going two-by-two, and the teams of Lotto and Alpecin would chase it down.
Scotson and not Bennett would take the sprint for the KoM point, joining 11 others on 1 point in the standings, before Bennett took the Intermediate Sprint for the 2nd time in the tour so far. Cavendish won the sprint for the remaining points from the Peleton, with Alpecin suddenly switching from working for Van der Poel to working for Merlier... Kasper Asgreen would be in support of Cav at the sprint, and continued of the front of the peleton, chasing down the breakaway, and even taking the KoM points ahead of Bennett and Scotson. Let's have another rider on 1 poiunt shall we?
Asgreen would be the last to be caught with 11km to go, and the Deceuninck train was put in motion. Declercq, Ballerini and Mørkøv lead out Cavendish and as the sprints opened up, only Cees Bol (DSM) and Bryan Coquard (BBK) could live with the Manxman, but it wasn't enough! Victory 1 of the Tour de France for Cav and with Ewan and Van der Poel fading to 14th and 21st place on the stage, the Green Jersey would also be on the back of Cav for Stage 5.
Stage 4 Result
1
Mark Cavendish
Deceuninck - Quick-Step
3h29'16
2
Cees Bol
Team DSM
s.t.
3
Bryan Coquard
B&B Hotels p/b KTM
s.t.
Laval, 30 June 2021
The first ITT of the 2021 Tour de France, and will be see a change of rider in Yellow? Van der Poel has held the jersey from Stage 1, but he will struggle today. Pogacar (UAD), Roglic , Van Aert (both TJV) and Thomas (IGD) all favourites for the day, as the GC men like Yates will want to limit their losses.
Of the early runners, Mattia Cattaneo (DQT) would be the surprise package, posting a very competitive time of 34'04 on the line. Many riders came and went, but the time stayed strong. Campenaerts (TQA)... nope! Kung (GFC)... nope! Van Aert... surely not but also nope! Cattaneo's time was un touchable. Well that was until teammate Kasper Asgreen bettered him by 4 seconds.
The GC battle some commenced elsewhere, with Thomas matching the time of Cattaneo, Uran (EF1) losing 39 seconds to him, but Simon Yates (BEX) would lose more than 1'30" on his fellow Brit and leaving it all to do in the mountains. Next though, all would be blown out the water by Tadej Pogacar - new time set of 33'54 and with those out on the course slower than him at the Checkpoints, he would be taking the stage. But would he take Yellow?
He was just 15 seconds behind countryman Primoz Roglic, and as the Slovenian came to the finish, the clock would tick over to 34'05! Roglic was taking yellow by 4 seconds! Alaphilippe and Van der Poel would be far from challenging the Slovenia's for with the stage or Yellow, as the pair would finish +57 and +1'47 respectively on the line.
Stage 5 Result
1
Tadej Pogacar
UAE Team Emirates
33'54
2
Kasper Asgreen
Deceuninck - Quick-Step
+ 6
3
Mattia Cattaneo
Deceuninck - Quick-Step
+ 10
Châteauroux, 1 July 2021
Châteauroux... the scene of Cav's first Tour de France victory in 2008 and then again in 2011, he was aiming to be the King of Châteauroux in the Tour de France.
A huge shock of the Tour de France today, as 3 riders were allowed in the day's breakaway! Gogl (TQA) kept up the trend of their being a break with a Qhubeka rider in it, and he was joined by Barthe (BBK) and Gruzdev (APT) up the road. Only an Intermediate Sprint was on the road today, with no KoM classified climbs for them to battle for.
Gogl would take the intermediate sprint, ahead of Barthe and Gruzdev, with Bol (DSM) taking the peleton sprint ahead of Sagan (BOH) and Cavendish. The break would press on during the stage, but with only a 3 minute gap to defend, it was always going to end in a mass sprint.
The Deceuninck train was again set up, hoping for a repeat of Stage 4, but competition would come in form of Lotto and Alpecin yet again. Ewan was the main man for Lotto, whilst again we saw Van der Poel working for Merlier. the finish was long and fast, and as Ballerini and Mørkøv placed Cav in the perfect position, they could do nothing about Wout Van Aert (TJV). The Belgian Champion would take a huge win and surprisingly it would be Oliver Naesen (ACT) stealing a 2nd place on the line ahead of Cavendish!
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
What's his sprint stat??? Of course, the bumpy finale surely suited him, but still...
