Earlier within the week I met the couple initially of the second stage on the bus of Astana. The place the place I’ve met them for years, with their huge Cavendish flag. The primary time we met, the gentleman informed me the place the nice and cozy bond with the Cav had as soon as originated.
When Sir Mark was nonetheless a Mark, in the beginning of his profession, he was given a penalty coaching by his workforce chief after a failed Gent-Wevelgem. The Belgian was ordered to trip behind Cavendish to assist him the place obligatory. It turned out to be the start of an in depth bond.
Since then, the couple has adopted Cavendish intently in lots of races. The sprinter is definitely the explanation to go to the Tour de France. The couple left the Tour final yr considerably dejected, as a result of Cavendish needed to abandon the race prematurely, badly injured and mendacity on a stretcher. All the things indicated that the Briton had ridden his final Tour. The Belgian couple additionally thought they have been saying ‘adieu’ to the race.
However Cavendish could not cease like that. Not within the ambulance, not with out holding absolutely the file for stage wins. In spite of everything: he nonetheless needed to share that honor with the nice Eddy Merckx. So Cavendish determined so as to add one other yr, with just one aim in thoughts: stage win 35. And the place Cav goes, the Belgians go.
That is how I noticed the couple standing initially in Cesenatico. One other yr older, the gentleman is now 78 years outdated. Bodily, they would not have minded if their hero Cavendish had retired from biking. The various kilometres of driving within the camper, having to park far-off from the beginning, the lengthy stroll that adopted. It did not go away the Belgian chilly. He observed that he was getting older, that it was costing him extra effort.
However it could not be true that their hero needed to do it with out their assist. So that they leaned towards the boundaries once more, and there was a heat greeting day-after-day from Cavendish, who all the time has a second for his outdated Belgian associates.
However within the commotion on the end line in Saint Vulbas I am unable to see them. Cavendish is cherished by everybody after his historic dash, folks crowd in entrance of the rostrum to see him have a good time together with his spouse and kids.
