Mark Cavendish is unlikely to compete in this year's Tour de France and has already "ruined" his chances of breaking last year's stage victory record, according to Brian Holm, director of his own Quick-Step Alfa Vinyl.

In an interview with FloBikes (opens in new tab), Holm suggested that Fabio Jacobsen is the faster sprinter on the team and that "most" would choose him over Cavendish at the Tour.

Cavendish signed with Quick Step in 2021 and revived his career, winning the Tour de France four times after three years without a win, tying Eddy Merckx's record of 34 stage wins. However, after signing a one-year contract extension, his participation in this year's Tour is in doubt, and Jacobsen is the favourite.

"It will be a little bit difficult," Holm said of Cavendish's possible return to the Tour this year. Because he signed with Quick-Step and we have Fabio Jacobsen. Fabio is the future of Quick Step."

Holm insisted that Cavendish could make history by winning for the team this July and breaking Merckx's record, but suggested there was little room for emotion, as he said Jacobsen is a faster finisher.

"Sure he can win. But in a pro team, ..... .if you sprint three times, Fabio will probably win twice. I think most people would choose Fabio."

"I think he's the best.

Perhaps the most candid comment on the matter, Holm suggested that Cavendish has already broken the stage win record. Cavendish, who won four times last year, along with Merckx, was the favorite to win the final sprint on the Champs Elysees, which he has won four times before, but finished third.

"His own life would have been a little easier if he had won the Champs Elysées," Holm said. He had a good chance last year on the Champs Elysées and he blew it. That's life."

Quick-Step-Alfavinir's selection for the Tour de France has not yet been confirmed, and Cavendish is still out of the running, but he will race to the end of the Giro d'Italia, while Jacobsen will race in the more traditional Tour de France program.

The two, along with Lefebvre, have commented on one of the biggest stories of the 2022 season, but Cavendish has already tried to deny any internal rivalry, expressing "fear" that his relationship with Jacobsen will deteriorate.