MARK CAVENDISH believes everything he needs is in place as he takes another shot at more Tour de France history over the next three weeks.

Cavendish will line up for Saturday’s opening stage in Florence with 34 Tour stage wins to his name, holding the all-time record alongside Eddy Merckx.

Last year was supposed to be Cavendish’s final Tour, his final chance to take the record outright, but when it was ended by a stage-eight crash, the Manxman was persuaded a career like his could not be allowed to end in the back of an ambulance. He returned for one more season.