Mark Cavendish refutes Franco racist allegations

12 comments
By AFP & BikeRadar | Wednesday, Jul 15, 2009 8.11pm

British sprint sensation Mark Cavendish hit back at claims that he racially insulted French riders at the Tour de France.

However, the 24-year-old from the Isle of Man, who bagged his fourth stage victory from this year's race Wednesday to take his total to a British record-equalling eight, admitted he can be difficult to handle.

"I love to come here (France) and I love to come here and race. For sure I'm going to get arsey at some lad - because I'm an @#*hole," said Cavendish. "But their nationality, and what they look like or where they come from is irrelevant."

Cavendish woke up on Wednesday to allegations in L'Equipe newspaper which cited anonymous French riders saying he had racially insulted them - and that his arrogance was getting on their nerves.

"Cavendish is racist, he's anti-French," said one rider. "He should be careful. We're not going to put up with his attitude much longer."

But while seemingly admitting that he can be a difficult customer - allegations in the press about his arrogant ways have prompted hot debate in the past - Cavendish refuted allegations that he was a racist.

He added: "I didn't say this. I had to laugh at that article this morning. I would have been nice to have the name of the rider who supposedly said this so that I can go and sort it out.

"I get a little hot-headed sometimes, but it's irrelevant the nationality of the rider when you get arsey at someone. When you're a rider with a public profile, you can't be friends with everybody, it's going to be like that.

"I take it as a compliment that they're going to try and start shit about something that's not about bike riding, because they've got nothing to criticise my riding about."

Another claim levelled at Cavendish was his refusal to do his share of the work in the 'grupetto', the slow bunch of non-climbers which usually works together to get through the difficult mountains stages.

On Sunday, Cavendish made sure he will make even fewer friends among his fellow strugglers in the mountains when he said he would continue sitting at the back and not taking his share of the relays.

"I'm just content to stay there," he told French television. "I have to share my energy at certain moments in the race."

Boonen desperate to challenge Cavendish

Belgium's Tom Boonen admitted he is desperate to step out of the shadow of rival Mark Cavendish after the Briton continued to dominate the Tour de France bunch sprints on Wednesday.

Boonen finished 16th and had to sprint for the line on his own after being separated from four of his QuickStep teammates, who were injured in a crash after 27km.

And with only a stage on Thursday, and possibly Saturday to come before the Tour climbs into the Alps, Boonen says he is running out of chances to shine as Cavendish dominates the sprints with the help of his Columbia team's train.

"I went into the last kilometre aiming for the back wheel of Cavendish, but it was all over pretty quickly," said the 28-year-old, who was controversially re-admitted to the race at the last minute after being initially sidelined by organisers because of a second positive test for cocaine.

"Now there are not many chances left before Paris. I have come here and I am unable to sprint."

While Cavendish's victories are usually also the work of his impressive sprint train, Boonen has had less success in that department.

"I was sprinting without a train of my own, I lost them so I had to go for it by myself. Columbia are a strong team for sure."

A new book about Cavendish, Boy Racer, was published in early June.

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User Comments

There are 12 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 12 of 12 comments

  • What a load of crap, either the French media are making it all up to fudge Cav or it has been said, in which case these grown men should sort it themselves. Pathetic. Let the cycling and not the OK or Hello school of reporting speak for itself. Nice on Cav! Keep it going....

  • France is a nation - not a race. Therefore, you cannot racially insult someone for being 'French'.........

  • It is not a bunch of crap. I have been watching the tour for france for more than 40 years. All this is rather new in the US. Cav has been known for many years for his unsprtsmanlike attitude. it should be be allowed and he should define his attitude and the comments he makes as being that of a "difficult" moment. No excuse.

  • Arrogant and racist arsehole?

    Is there french blood in the Isle of Man?

    Eek.....gross generalisation of course and no wish to offend the lovely open minded french people out there!

  • ahhhh it can't be true.....Cav admits he's an arsehole!

    Ca Va Monsieur Lance?

  • I love how these allegations are always made by an anonymous person. Why anonymous? Well, the allegations are either untrue or the French press are stirring the shit. If the allegations are true then the rider should act like a man and speak to Cav face to face.

    As for Cav being racist. He's not racist if he's being an arse to everyone. He's known for his attitude and frankly, if you're a dick, you're a dick no matter where you come from.

    Allez Cav - go for green. God's speed and screw everyone else.

  • Surely the 'journalist' who wrote the headline to this piece should have used the word 'denies', not 'refutes'?

    That aside, the sort of anti-French xenophobia exhibited in some of the replies on here underline the fact that such attitudes are common amongst many Anglophones and so give credibility to the claim that Cavendish in his ‘arrogance’ did say something insulting.

  • "That aside, the sort of anti-French xenophobia exhibited in some of the replies on here underline the fact that such attitudes are common amongst many Anglophones and so give credibility to the claim that Cavendish in his ‘arrogance’ did say something insulting."

    Isn't that a common thing throughout Europe? In a light hearted way, French, German, English they all take the p1ss out of eachother!

  • yeah, he's got that schoolboy arrogance, but seeing he's the best, he can afford to do so.

    As for doing his turns in the peloton, well he's protected, and needs to be primed to deliver the next day.. Do the YJ contenders take turns on stages that just keep rolling. No! So should the GC contenders take turns? No!

    The french want to intimidate anyone who spoils their party. They spent years hounding lance, now its cav. Keep it so your legs do the talking Cav and to hell with em.

  • oops, re my post , GC should read GJ, as in green jersey

  • Non French cyclist does well....the French tolerate it for a bit.

    Non French cyclist continues to do well...the French don't tolerate it any more.

    Sour grapes monsieurs? Struggling to find another Hinault?

    Can you imagine if Armstrong got the yellow and Cav the green in Paris? Just watch the racist EPO dope unsportsman like headlines roll off the French dailies!

  • He is sometimes arrogant, stroppy, obnoxious and difficult to get on with. He, however, is the fastest man on a bike and will attract attention. Its good to see character in the peloton and if there was any substance to this story there would be official apologies flying round like mad. Has anyone else noticed how he always praises his team first? How many other sprinters with the big lead out trains did that first?

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