Mark Cavendish, luxury co-driver of Sébastien Ogier in Greece

Mark Cavendish definitively entered the legend of road cycling and the Tour de France on July 3, 2024, by winning in Saint Vulbas, the scene of the finish of the 5th stage of the 2024 edition of the Grande Boucle, his 35th bouquet in 15 participations. With this success, the 39-year-old Briton, originally from the Isle of Man, became the sole holder of the record for stage victories on the roads of the world's greatest cycling race, ahead of Eddy Merckx.

The rider of the Kazakh cycling team Astana went to Lamia, in the heart of Greece, on Wednesday, September 4, to spend time with the drivers of the World Rally Championship. After a bike ride in the company of, among others:Adrien fourmaux et Sébastien Ogier, the Manx Missile (Mark Cavendish's nickname) was taken up into the Toyota Yaris Rally1 to the right of the eight-time world champion WRC for a high-speed baptism during the shakedown.

Two champions sharing each other's worlds 🤝

Hope this sprint through shakedown was fast enough for you, @MarkCavendish! #ToyotaGAZOORacing #GRYaris #WRC #AcropolisRally 🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/dTY64oWbkR

- TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT (@TGR_WRC) September 5, 2024

« It's one of the best experiences of my life, Mark Cavendish, who is used to the thrills of cycling's mass sprints or previously on velodromes (American world champion in 2005, 2008 and 2016), rejoiced. See the best drivers in the world – not just the best in rally, but the top drivers in general – doing what they do was incredible. The similarities [between rallying and cycling] are striking… Anyone who drives a car thinks they can drive a rally car and anyone who gets on a bike thinks they can do the Tour de France, but when you see it up close and everything they do, that’s really what separates the best. I think the fans are the most important thing for rallying and cycling. They’re part of the stages by being able to be up close to the action. That’s what’s special, it’s humbling and it makes both sports real. »

A good moment shared by Sébastien Ogier. It was a very pleasant moment, said the Frenchman. I love sharing experiences with other athletes, especially legends of their sport. It’s incredible what he has achieved in cycling. I can feel it a little in my legs today, but on Mark’s side, I think it’s a little more his chest pumping! »

Will this give Mark Cavendish ideas to move to four wheels now that his career is nearing its twilight? He could then cross paths with a certain Tom Boonen, with whom he was a teammate at Quick Step from 2013 to 2015.

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