37-year-old Manxman attacked from the start, joining a long-range breakaway and then winning a three-up sprint in the end. Sam Watson (Groupama-FDJ) finished second and Alex Richardson (Le Col) placed third. Cavendish (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) won the British National Road Championship for the second time. The first win came in 2013.
“Those photos would be there forever,” he said of possibly winning the 35th Tour de France stage in the British Champion’s jersey – enough to surpass his current joint record with Eddy Merckx.
However, the Quickstep Alpha-Vinyl boss, Patrick Lefevere, repeatedly named Fabio Jakobsen as the team’s designated sprinter for the Tour.
“It’s unlikely I’ll go to the Tour de France,” Cavendish admitted. “So I might as well use it today and at least show that the reason I’m not going to the Tour is not because I’ve got bad form.”
“You can see my condition, that I’m good enough to do the Tour. I know if I went, I’d win [a stage],” he added, reminding everyone of his 2021 success. “I feel so much better than last year and you know what happened last year. I won four stages at the Tour de France and the Green Jersey.
“I haven’t had a call from the team one way or the other. Normally, you get a call to say you’re going or not going but this time, I haven’t had anything, so I’m trying to stay optimistic.“
So, there is still room for the management to change their mind. Should they? What do you think?
British National Championships – Men‘s road race: Castle Douglas – Castle Douglas (201 km)
1. Mark Cavendish (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl)
2. Sam Watson (Groupama-FDJ)
3. Alexandar Richardson (Le Col)
4. Ben Turner (Ineos Grenadiers)
5. Matthew Bostock (WiV Sungod)
6. Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ)
7. Connor Swift (Arkea-Samsic )
8. Owain Doull (EF Education-EasyPost)
9. Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers)
10. John Archibald (Private Member)
