Tour de France is the main goal for Mark Cavendish this season. Last year, because of a strong crash during the opening stage in Yorkshire, he was not able to compete with his rivals. So, this year, he would like to shine and maybe won his 26th stage.

His contract will end at the end of this season and Rolf Aldag, the sports director, explained according to Cyclingnews that at this moment, it is not the main subject in the staff. "I think that right now there's no need to discuss Mark's future. Right now the only thing we need to discuss is the now because the Tour de France is just around the corner and that's the most important thing."

"He missed the Tour last year but we all that he made his value as a rider from that race and winning 25 stages there, along with all the other great wins he had at the Giro, Vuelta and his win at Milan-San Remo. It will all come down to all his sporting success. The biggest event of the year is knocking at the door."

Aldag hopes that his star sprinter will succeed at the Tour. "We want to prove that he missed out last year at the Tour because he was injured and not because of anything else. He's had a really good season so far and to put that little extra on top he can win at the Tour. I don't think we should say it's only about winning a certain number of stages. He wants to be there, and be

present. The team are backing him and that's the plan. The rest [in terms of contracts] is between Patrick [Lefevere] and Mark and what they figure out together. I hope this is the best team for him and if you look at his statements he seems to be all right with the team here."