Cavendish, who won his first Tour de France stage in 2008, has enjoyed a glittering career as a sprinter, taking victories on the flatter, faster stages of races, particularly in the Grand Tours.
He has won 165 races since 2005 and the points classification at all three Grand Tours.
Cavendish’s other major achievements include an omnium silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 2011 Road World Championships rainbow jersey, the 2009 Milan-San Remo ‘monument’ one-day classic, 17 stage wins in the Giro d’Italia and three in the Vuelta a Espana.
He also won three world track titles in the madison and gold in the scratch race at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, representing the Isle of Man.
Having not won at the Tour since 2018, Cavendish first hinted at retirement at the end of the 2020 season but returned to form the following year – winning four Tour stages and the green jersey in his second spell with the successful Quick-Step team.
Cavendish and his family were the victims of a violent robbery at their home in 2021.
After all his setbacks, he surpassed Merckx with a sensational sprint to blast past his rivals in Saint Vulbas.
Reacting to Cavendish’s historic win, former team-mate and good friend Geraint Thomas said: “It’s unbelievable, I am super happy for him. It is great he has the record alone and is not sharing it with anyone.”
Although Cavendish was not able to win another stage, he successfully made the time cut throughout the mountain stages to ensure he completed the Tour for the eighth time in his 15 appearances.
“You’re going to go down as the greatest of all time,” said 2012 Tour winner and five-time Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins in a video message to Cavendish.
“There are not many GOATs in the world but you are certainly one of them and I’m so happy for you and the family.”
Four-time Tour winner Chris Froome added: “Congratulations on an amazing career, you’ve inspired so many people, including myself.”