Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) on the podium at Gueugnon
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) can't hide his delight on taking the stage
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) finally off the mark
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) needed a win and he got one
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) shows his emotions in Reims
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) takes the sprint in Reims
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) leaves everyone behind
(Image credit: Sirotti)
Stage 5 winner Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) waves to the crowd.
(Image credit: James Huang)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) rolls towards the starting line.
(Image credit: James Huang)
Mark Cavendish and Ivan Basso chat before the start.
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Mark Cavendish (HTC - Columbia) powers to the finish line in Gueugnon.
(Image credit: AFP)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) is marking this year's 'kills' with crossed samurai swords.
(Image credit: James Huang)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) takes stage 11 to Bourg-les-Valence
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) and Lance Armstrong (Radioshack) talk
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) not only gets his own pair of custom colored (and discontinued) Nike shoes but even socks to match.
(Image credit: James Huang)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) wins the bunch sprint for second.
(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Mark Cavendish gets on his bike with a big smile
(Image credit: Brecht Decaluwé)
Mark Cavendish attracts fans of all ages
(Image credit: Stephen Farrand)
They're back! We've still got plenty of time to see how many of these Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) will rack up before the end of the Tour de France.
(Image credit: James Huang)
Four Tour de France stage wins in 2008 and a remarkable six victories twelve months ago mean that Mark Cavendish has set the bar very high indeed. After a difficult start to 2010, the Manxman arrives at the Tour de France desperate to reassert himself as the king of the sprinters. With opportunites for the fastmen seemingly limited in this year's route, the sprint finishes will be even more frenetic than usual, but one certainty is that Cavendish will be at the heart of all of the action.
Follow the highs and lows of Cav's 2010 Tour here, as our cameras track the progress of one of cycling's most compelling personalities.
