Mark Cavendish's chances of competing in the 2022 Tour de France have improved after his stunning victory in the second stage of the UAE Tour. Quick-Step Alfa Vinyl team manager Patrick Lefebvia revealed that the team's best sprinter will secure a spot on the eight-man team in July, opening the door for Mark Cavendish to compete.

For the past few weeks, Fabio Jacobsen has been in front of Cavendish, vying for the single sprinter spot on the team. He reiterated that he is on a long list of 14 riders for the Tour de France, with Cavendish set to compete in the Giro d'Italia, but admitted that he is not the only sprinter on the long list.

Cavendish won four stages and the green jersey at the 2021 Tour de France, while Jacobsen was favored to compete in the Tour after a successful comeback from a crash and serious facial injury at the Tour de Pologne. Both riders were getting better in the early season sprint races, and Lefebvre seemed willing to fan the flames of rivalry within the team to accept Cavendish's chances of qualifying for the Tour de France. Last year, Cavendish won a late call-up to replace Sam Bennett, who had decided to return to Bora-Hansgrohe in 2022 due to a knee injury.

"I know Fabio Jacobsen said at the media day in Calpe in early January that he would normally go [to the Tour de France], but I have a long list," Lefevere said after seeing Cavendish win in person on the breakwater in Abu Dhabi. told Nieuwsblad.

"I am not Madame Soleil (a popular French astrologer). A lot can still happen, it happened last year...

" "The best will go to the Tour and have to finish against other sprinters like Caleb Huang, Christophe and Coquard. I am especially happy that my two sprinters are on the march. Cavendish is already on the Giro list. So, see you there. Let's start another new season this weekend."

Lefebvre explained that he expects his riders to be back in Belgium this opening weekend for both the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the Coulee Bruxelles Coulee.

Jakobsen will be with Quick Step Alfa Vinyl and will no doubt try to match Cavendish's success on the UAE Tour. The Dutchman has already won four sprints, including two last week at the Volta Ao Algarve, where teammate Remco Evenpole won the overall and helped lead out.

"Snacks are over. It's time to start the starters," Lefebvre said of his team, which has won 10 races in the early season.

The 2022 season will level up with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, followed by the cobbled classics of Strade Bianche, Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Milan-San Remo.

Lefebvre has criticized the protracted contract negotiations with Cavendish in the last months of 2022. But he praised the 36-year-old Manxman for his fast and hectic sprint in Abu Dhabi, holding off Alpecin Phoenix's Yasper Philipsen in the closing stages.

"It was a powerful sprint. Cav's experience and strength outweighed Jasper Philipsen," said Lefebvred.

"Sunday was a tailwind sprint and he was more stressed there. This time the focus was more on fighting and the power he could get from his little legs. It was also ideal timing, right around the corner. Everyone thinks it's normal for Cavendish to win, but it's not always the case."