Frustrated Cav misses magic Mark

MARK CAVENDISH slammed his handlebars in frustration after he was denied a fairy-tale finish to his stunning Tour de France encore.

- MIKE WALTERS

‘The Manx Missile’, bidding for a record 35th stage win to overhaul Belgian legend Eddy Merckx’s 46-year old record, was pipped on the Champs-Elysees by Belgian pair Wout van Aert and Jasper Philipsen.

After four stage wins in this year’s race brought him level with Merckx, Cavendish was dreaming of a Hollywood finale on the celebrated Paris boulevard where he had won four times before.

But in a dramatic twist, he fell just short as he was denied another piece of history.