'I'm speechless' - Mark Cavendish opens his 2024 account at Tour Colombia

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) sprinted to victory on stage 4 of Tour Colombia. The British rider edged out Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) in vintage fashion, using a splendid lead-out to notch his first win of the season. Nelson Andrés Soto (Petrolike) finished third on the day.

Stage 4 was the second bite at the apple for the sprinters in Colombia, after two stages for opportunists. Yet with a finishing altitude of 2,577 metres, the deck was still stacked in favour of Gaviria, who is more accustomed to high-altitude racing.

After lacking pace against Gaviria on stage 1, it seemed like a win in Colombia might be a bridge too far for Cavendish.

Nevertheless, with a sprint win on stage 4, Cavendish looks to be in fine form heading into the rest of his season that focuses on breaking the all-time Tour de France stage win record.

Read more:

• Mark Cavendish's 2024 Tour de France squad 'miles ahead' of 2023, says Mark Renshaw
• Anastopoulos: Mark Cavendish's lead-out riders speak with their eyes, they don't need to say much

“I'm speechless. I was lined up behind my boys in the final kilometre and knew I couldn't let them down," Cavendish said after the finish. "They were phenomenal. Not just in the final, but the whole day. After a split in the peloton over a climb, they chased with ferocity and heart, along with Movistar Team for 70km to make sure we got our sprint. The belief and passion they showed for our team brings tears to my eyes."

Change in Cavendish's lead-out pays off

Astana Qazaqstan have brought a team to Colombia that consists of the riders who will be assisting Cavendish this summer. Both Michael Mørkøv and Cees Bol were on point on stage 4, delivering their sprinter to the line in flawless fashion for his 163rd victory. It also, remarkably, marks the 20th country in which Cavendish has taken a professional victory.

In the opening stage, it was Mørkøv who acted as the final pilot fish for Cavendish, just as he had done back in the pair's Quick-Step days. But a slight change of plan offered more success for the team on Friday, with Mørkøv guiding his teammates into the closing 600m before Bol took over and delivered Cavendish a pristine lead-out.

"In the lead-out we made a small change, leaving Cees Bol as the last wheel for Mark. In the first stage it was Mørkøv, but today he got a flat tyre in a wrong moment and had to chase the group for a long time, spending a lot of energy," explained team head of performance, Vasilis Anastopoulos.

"In general, the lead-out train, all the guys worked out perfectly and Mark just finished the job with a solid victory. It was a great day for us as a team”

It was a move that paid off handsomely for Astana Qazaqstan, who now have the strength and depth in their sprinting roster to create the best conditions for Cavendish's assault on stage win number 35 this summer at the Tour.

Read more: 'It will be Ballerini, then me and then Mørkov' in Mark Cavendish's lead-out, reveals Cees Bol

The Tour Colombia continues on Saturday with the crucial summit finishing up the 30km, 5.7% Alto del Vino. Cavendish's teammate Harold Tejada lies second in the general classification, with just a four-second gap to make up on race leader Rodrigo Contreras (Nu Colombia).

The race will conclude on Sunday with a punchy 138km stage 5 around Bogota, but for the time being, Cavendish is soaking up the moment, and reflecting on the latest saga in his friendly rivalry with Gaviria, which dates back to the 2015 Tour de San Luis.

"I'm so proud we could get another stage win here in Colombia. To sprint against Fernando Gaviria in his home country was special too. He was coming so fast, and after the work of both our teams, I was delighted to share the podium with him."

Read more: 'Knowing I was valued is biggest factor in not retiring' says Mark Cavendish