Follow live updates from stage 21 - a time trial from Monaco to Nice
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Image source, Getty ImagesA true legend of bike racing, acknowledged by all as the best sprinter ever. To see his distinctive crouched shape manoeuvre impossibly around the final stages of a TdF sprint, before zooming past is one of finest sights in sport. The Manx Missile. Gonna miss him!!
Ben, Devon
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Been cheering on the Manx Missile since 2008 Narbonne. I thought it was game over 2018 La Rosiere... Stood on my own for 40 minutes to shout him on... The way he has come back from that is truly inspirational... Chapeau Sir Legend!!
Brian, Bize Minervois
I don't think it's going to be Geraint Thomas' stage. He's 28th at the first time check.
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The record is no consequence. Cav was the greatest sprinter of all time before the record and Eddie Merckx remains the greatest road race cyclist after it. If Pogacar breaks the record one day, it will in no way diminish the status of a man who simply loved to race his bike and win. I doubt I will live to see the likes of Sir Mark again.
George Cob
Wout van Aert has won a time trial at the Tour de France before - back in that remarkable 2021 tour where he also outsprinted Cav in Paris.
But he won't be claiming a stage win today. He's 82nd at checkpoint one.
Remember to leave your name on your texts guys. And keep your lovely messages coming in!
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Privileged to witness Cav in possibly his last ever road race here in Nice today - truly a legend!! Allez Mark!!
Anon
Geraint Thomas has just set off. The 2018 champion gets a great reception in Monaco.
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Cavendish is an absolute inspiration, one of the main reasons I love the sport. Great to have seen him win the record this year. Thanks for the memories
Anon
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Be great to see Mark Cavendish at the tour of Britain.
Anon
Update from Nice. Mark Cavendish's teammate Harold Tejada goes into the hot seat, recording a time of 48 minutes and 14 seconds, 10 seconds quicker than Lenny Martinez.
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Sir Mark Cavendish - the greatest of all time
Aalish Burden
Not too long to go now until this TT starts heating up.
Wout van Aert - 16:03:00 BST
Matteo Jorgenson - 17:31:00 BST
Adam Yates - 17:35:00 BST
Joao Almeida - 17:39:00 BST
Remco Evenepoel - 17:41:00 BST
Jonas Vingegaard - 17:43:00 BST
Tadej Pogacar - 17:45:00 BST
Frenchman Lenny Martinez is our current leader. His time to beat stands at 48 minutes 24 seconds.
Image source, Getty ImagesMark Cavendish was one of the first to go out in today's stage and, after taking plenty of time to wave to supporters, finished his TT in 54 minutes 38 seconds.
That puts Cav in 49th place at the moment - out of the 54 who have finished.
Image source, Getty ImagesCavendish, who won his first Tour de France stage in 2008, has enjoyed a glittering career as a sprinter, taking victories on the flatter, faster stages of races, particularly in the Grand Tours.
He has won 165 races since 2005 and the points classification at all three Grand Tours.
Cavendish's other major achievements include an omnium silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 2011 Road World Championships rainbow jersey, the 2009 Milano-San Remo 'monument' one-day classic, 16 stage wins in the Giro d'Italia and three in the Vuelta a Espana.
Having not won at the Tour since 2018, Cavendish first hinted at retirement at the end of the 2020 season but returned to form the following year - winning four Tour stages and the green jersey in his second spell with the successful Quick Step team.
On stage five of this year's edition he created history, blasting past his rivals in a sensational sprint finish in Saint Vulbas.
Reacting to Cavendish's historic win, former team-mate and good friend Geraint Thomas said: "It's unbelievable, I am super happy for him. It is great he has the record alone and is not sharing it with anyone."
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Cavendish, 39, is the Tour de France's greatest sprinter and has also twice won the points classification.
He had feared his career could be over, and battles with illness, injuries and depression contributed to him not winning once during 2019 and 2020.
Left out of the 2022 Tour and seemingly out of contract at the end of that year, he joined Astana Qazaqstan at the last minute in 2023.
Image source, Getty ImagesLegendary British cyclist Mark Cavendish says this year's Tour de France is likely to have been his last ever race.
The sprinter won a record 35th Tour de France stage in the first week of this year's edition, going one clear of Belgian Eddy Merckx's long-standing record - which Cavendish equalled in 2021.
Last year was supposed to be his 14th and final Tour, but he delayed his retirement and signed a contract extension with the Astana Qazaqstan Team until the end of the 2024 season.
Asked after the final stage of this year's Tour if he had finished his final race Cavendish said "likely so, yes".