Mark Cavendish narrowly avoids missing Tour de France time cut after struggling in brutal opening stage

In a grueling first stage of the race, the Manx rider faced extreme conditions as he was dropped early on and seen vomiting from his bike in the scorching 35C heat. The stage, which featured a record-breaking 3600m of climbing, saw Bardet of DSM-firmenich PostNL emerge victorious at the age of 33. Bardet's daring attack on the Côte de San Leo, 50km from the finish, allowed him to claim the yellow jersey for the first time in his career. Riding alongside teammate Frank Van Den Broek, Bardet maintained a lead over the peloton and secured the win with a final effort in the last meters of the race. Meanwhile, at the back of the race, Fabio Jakobsen of DSM-Firmenich PostNL struggled and fell behind the Cavendish group. The peloton was further split by the challenging climb, with UAE Team Emirates taking control at the front, resulting in five distinct groups of riders. The breakaway group, including riders like Matej Mohoric and Ion Izagirre, maintained a strong lead over the peloton as they tackled the climbs and pushed towards the finish line. Mark Cavendish, aiming to break Eddy Merckx's record of 34 stage wins, faced challenges during the race but remained determined to succeed. The 39-year-old rider expressed his readiness for retirement but also his gratitude for the opportunity to continue competing. Cavendish's impact on the sport and his motivation to inspire future generations were highlighted, emphasizing his significant presence in cycling history and his ongoing pursuit of success in the Tour. With several sprinting opportunities ahead in the race, Cavendish and other riders are prepared to give their best efforts to achieve victory and leave a lasting legacy in the sport.