Because Belgian supporters of Merckx have always been sniffy about Cavendish, saying he's only a sprinter and his stage wins were easier than the all-round ability of their hero who won on mountain stages, time trials, sprints and on a heavier bike in an age when doping was unknown. The thing is, Cavendish beat the record aged 39 - Merckx retired at 32 - in a sport where the average career is around 3 years and at a time when more pure sprinters were around to jostle for victory. It's not a place for faint hearts in the final km of a pro race and if you watch his record breaking ride you can see how he has to fight his way through on the inside, timing the cut across to take the lead at the perfect moment, ensuring he crossed the line ahead of everyone else. Cycling has always been a bigger deal on the continent and for an Englishman of all people to take Merckx' record will strike at the heart of any Belgian cyclist who worship their idol, fifty years after he won his last TdF. Maybe the new record will last even longer?
