Cavendish, who won his first Tour de France stage in 2008, has enjoyed a glittering career as a sprinter, taking victories on the flatter, faster stages of races, particularly in the Grand Tours.

He has won 165 races since 2005 and the points classification at all three Grand Tours.

Cavendish’s other major achievements include an omnium silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 2011 Road World Championships rainbow jersey, the 2009 Milano-San Remo ‘monument’ one-day classic, 16 stage wins in the Giro d’Italia and three in the Vuelta a Espana.

Having not won at the Tour since 2018, Cavendish first hinted at retirement at the end of the 2020 season but returned to form the following year – winning four Tour stages and the green jersey in his second spell with the successful Quick Step team.

Cavendish and his family were the victims of a violent robbery at their home in 2021.

He was omitted from Quick Step’s Tour squad the following year, after which he signed for Astana Qazaqstan.

On stage five of this year’s edition he created history, blasting past his rivals in a sensational sprint finish in Saint Vulbas.

Reacting to Cavendish’s historic win, former team-mate and good friend Geraint Thomas said: “It’s unbelievable, I am super happy for him. It is great he has the record alone and is not sharing it with anyone.”