Tour de France - Cavendish hits out at drug cheats
Mark Cavendish took British cycling to new heights at the Tour de France and then blasted the drugs cheats who have once again dragged the race through the mire.
The sprint specialist from the Isle of Man once again left the field in his wake with an electrifying final burst towards the finish line in Narbonne to claim a third victory in this year’s Tour.
By doing so he became the first Briton to win three times in the same year, surpassing another sprinter, Barry Hoban, who won two stages in both 1969 and 1973.
With three consecutive defeats of Thor Hushovd, Erik Zabel and Oscar Freire, the 23-year-old Cavendish can now legitimately claim the title of fastest sprinter in the world, even with the absence of Tom Boonen through recreational drug use.
The stage win was reward for Cavendish’s toil through the Pyrenees, which included a last-place finish and a collision with a football.
However, it threatened to be overshadowed by yet another doping scandal.
This time it was Riccardo Ricco, the star rider of Saunier Duval-Scott, who many in cycling hoped would become one of the sport’s great climbers.
Ricco’s positive test for EPO, produced after the time-trial at Cholet on July 8, prompted Saunier Duval to withdraw voluntarily from the race, despite being given permission by the Amaury Sports Organisation to continue.
And after his victory, Cavendish expressed satisfaction that the cheats were being weeded out.
“It’s good that the tests are working,” Cavendish said.
“I think you’re always going to get people who think they can cheat the system, whether it’s in cycling, another sport or business.
“I’m in the sport I love, which I don’t want tarnished. Cycling’s not just a job for me, it’s a passion, and maybe the people who resort to doping don’t have the same passion as me.”
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