How Cav Won the Green Jersey (10 page)
Read How Cav Won the Green Jersey Online
Authors: Ned Boulting
What memories will we all take away, when this imperious winning streak is over? What will remain with us of Mark Cavendish?
Standing in Paris to one side of the podium, watching the man (a little knock-kneed, and somewhat short, by the standards of immortals), I understood that not much had changed. Not since the first day I met him on the eve of the 2007 Tour, when he stated his aims, and articulated for the first time his quite unshakable faith. Nothing about him was different, except the colour of his jersey.
Only by being Mark Cavendish could you possibly imagine what drives him. And ‘Being Mark Cavendish’ necessitates being no one else, bending your will, tempering your heart, altering your course, for no one else. Not until every last target has been reached, grasped and locked away. And that, for the World Champion, is some way off.
I exited Paris, headed for the campsite in Brittany, reconnected my car’s battery, and resumed my life.
It had been a riot.
* * *
And the answer to his question? Well, it’s changed now.
Hushovd. Petacchi. Cavendish.
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Published by Vintage Digital 2012
Version 1.0
Epub ISBN 9781448129386
Copyright © Ned Boulting 2012
Ned Boulting has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
First published in Great Britain in 2012 by Vintage Digital
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