Six-times Tour de France green jersey winner Erik Zabel believes Briton Mark Cavendish, winner of the second stage on Sunday, can become the greatest sprinter of all time.
“I rank him up there in the top three of all time, with (Italian Mario) Cipollini and (Frenchman Andre) Darrigade,†Zabel, an adviser to Cavendish’s Team Columbia, said at the start of the third stage in Marseille on Monday.
The German, who retired last season with 135 victories behind him, knows exactly what he is talking about. On the Tour he won 12 stages, like Cipollini, and only one fewer than Darrigade, the star sprinter of the 1950s. Cavendish won four stages in last year’s race.
“He’s only 24, but if he goes on like this, he can become the greatest sprinter of all time,†he said.
Team Columbia manager Bob Stapleton explained Zabel’s role within his squad… Details