Châteauroux has renamed itself ‘Cavendish City’ in honour of Mark Cavendish, recognising the British rider’s trio of Tour de France stage wins in the town with temporary signage at its entrances ahead of the 2025 edition of the race.
Cavendish sprinted to victory on the avenue de La Châtre in 2008, 2011 and again in 2021. The first of those wins was also the very first Tour stage victory of his career, coming against the likes of Oscar Freire and Erik Zabel. Now retired, Cavendish holds the all-time record for Tour de France stage wins with 35, having surpassed Eddy Merckx with a 35th career win on stage 5 of the 2024 race.
With the Tour set to return to Châteauroux on 13th July, local mayor Gil Avérous marked the occasion by having ‘Cavendish City’ signs installed beneath all 17 city limit signs around the town. “He’s won three times here, in sprints of course. He’s an extraordinary athlete. It makes us happy,” said Avérous in a statement to Ici Berry. “It deserved a little tribute.”
Though the signs are temporary, the city is reportedly considering a permanent tribute. One option on the table is renaming part of the avenue de La Châtre in front of the Stade Gaston-Petit after the Manxman. “I spoke to him about it and he’s very enthusiastic,” Avérous said. “We’re going to do it, perhaps by the end of the year depending on his availability.”
Châteauroux will host a Tour de France finish for the fifth time on a 174km flat stage from Chinon, with another bunch sprint widely expected. Cavendish’s retirement came in November 2024, shortly after he capped his career with that record-setting win. His impact, however, remains firmly embedded in Tour history – and now, quite literally, in the town of Châteauroux.
Main photo credit: Getty
