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'Merckx and true inspiration Cav's record will never be beaten' | Mark Cavendish is the greatest sprinter of all time
Season 4, Ep. 27
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Brad is joined by Bernie Eisel on a day for the history books when their old teammate Mark Cavendish equalled the great Eddy Merck's record of 34 stage wins at the Tour de France.
Reflecting in the company of Graham Willgoss on Cav going deep to match The Cannibal's legendary landmark on Stage 13 of the Tour, the pair agreed the two riders can't be compared.
"You don't have to compare them," says Brad. "Merckx is the greatest cyclist of all time. Cav is the best British cyclist of all time, and the greatest sprinter of all time. And he's up there with Eddy Merckx in terms of tally...
"Is anyone going to beat Cav's record? I don't think another sprinter will. Is anyone ever going to beat the record of Merckx and Cav as the greatest sprinter of all time and the greatest cyclist of all time?
Brad and Bernie also pick the Cav stage wins they've been involved in that mean the most to them – and Brad believes his old mate isn't done just yet: "I wouldn't underestimate how well Cav is going, and it's not because other people aren't here."
A tough road lies ahead, with five stages into the heart of the Pyrenees. But Bernie is sure Cav will make it through, given the strength of his Deceuninck Quick-Step team.
"I had to bring him through the Pyrenees on my own, with Mark Renshaw crying on the wheel!" he says. "Now he has four, five guys even, around him!"
Bernie also solves the mystery of Cav's chain coming off at the finish every time.
Elsewhere, there is praise for Omer Goldstein's combative day out in the breakaway – and for Simon Yates, who DNF'ed after hitting the road hard in a crash.
"Coming out of the Giro, your body and your brain are just like: 'How much more can you take?'" says Bernie. "Everybody has to understand: it has been the hardest first 12 days of racing we have ever seen in the Tour de France."
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The Bradley Wiggins Show is produced by Pete Burton.
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