Rio Olympics 2016: Mark Cavendish says Olympic quest is like Lewis Hamilton winning an F1 race then trying to do it again in a rally car
MARK CAVENDISH says his Olympic quest is like Lewis Hamilton winning an F1 race then trying to do it again in a rally car.
The Manx Missile, who last month won four Tour de France stages and enjoyed a day in the Yellow Jersey, will today take on the six-event omnium as he looks to emulate Team GB’s gold heroes.
But after riding 1,814 miles in France before dropping out, the 31-year-old has had to turn his attention to the fast and furious track.
He said: “It’s not easy but I’ve been managing that all year. This is about making every single pedal rev count.
“I don’t know how deep I went in the Tour, how much of my fast-twitch fibres are used up, I can’t quickly get them active again.
“It’s like Lewis Hamilton just won, then imagine he has to go and do a rallycross race.
“It’s still driving but it’s a bit different. Actually, it’s not even the driving. It’s the physical side.
“A high-power engine having to do a high-torque effort the week after. The engine can do it but it’s going to put a lot of pressure and stress on it.”
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Cavendish’s quest for Olympic gold spans the last eight years — and two failed attempts to land the big one. In 2008 he and Bradley Wiggins had a falling-out after finishing ninth in the madison, when they had been favourites to win.
Then in 2012 on the road, Cavendish was favourite for the men’s road race — but Team GB were outwitted on Box Hill as a break- away went clear and former drug cheat Alexander Vinokourov won gold.
But Cavendish promised: “I’m not just doing it to mill around in Rio de Janeiro. I’ve been to two Olympics.
“I’m going because I want to win but it will not be the defining moment of my career.
“But it’s definitely something I’d like to win in my career, something I haven’t won.
“From a mental point of view I’m on a bit of a high from it. Not away on the clouds high.
“Not like I’m going on a p**s up for a week after the Tour de France. I know that the work I’ve put in is working.”
You would think Cavendish would have had his Tour Yellow Jersey framed by now, but he hasn’t had time even to think about it.
He added: “It’s in a bag with my other jerseys. I’ve got a room getting done at the minute, I’ll sort it out later.”