Rod Ellingworth still believe that Mark Cavendish can take the record for most Tour stage victories of Eddy Merckx.

It is almost two years ago, to sprinteren Mark Cavendish last came first across the finish line in a bicycle race, but the 34-year-old briton death is still a great record.

His holdskifte to Bahrain-McLaren - for which the team correctly named from the upcoming season - must be the key to that, he increases the number of stage victories in the Tour de France, so he becomes the race's most winning ever.

Cavendish has won 30 Tour stages, while the legend Eddy Merckx has won 34.

Rod Ellingworth, who is sporting director at Bahrain-McLaren, is confident that Cavendish has what it takes to beat the record.

- When the Mark it well, is in good shape and is motivated, he is one of the best sprinters in the world. The record will be a challenge, but it is a good challenge to have.

- I am sure that it is still his ambition to beat it, and I know it is possible. He is a winner - such is his mentality, says Rod Ellingworth.

- We would all love to see him at the Tour. From the first conversations with Mark, it has been clear that it is about to come for the Tour, he adds.

The two know each other from both the british national team and from the defunct Team Sky, where they came to be at the same time.

Ellingworth has previously emphasized that Mark Cavendish has not gotten a contract with a Bahrain-McLaren, for old friendship's sake. He sees no reason for concern that one must return to February of 2018 in order to find sprinterens latest victory.

- Although in the last two years, we have been able to see that he has agreed to all his races with a belief that he can win, and he has wondered why this has not happened. For me it's about that now he must win any race and then start from there, " says Ellingworth.

Cavendish has also been reunited with Roger Hammond, who was sprinterens the sports director at the time of Dimension Data.

Sprinteren tells that he has no intention to disappoint them.

- It is two people who are adept at their work. I am lucky that I have worked with them, for it is some of the hardest working and brightest minds in cycling, Mark Cavendish.

/ritzau/Reuters