Mission: Support

Over the Mountains: The Hidden Work Behind Mark Cavendish’s Victories

Mark Cavendish was one of the greatest cyclists the sport has ever seen. He not only equalled what was once thought to be an unbreakable record, the Tour de France stage win tally of the legendary Eddy Merckx, but also went on to surpass it. For context, Eddy Merckx is widely regarded as the greatest rider of all time, with multiple Tour de France victories and world championships to his name. To match, and then beat, his stage win record is an achievement of historic proportions.

What made Cavendish so extraordinary was his unmatched ability in the sprint finishes, the fast, flat stages where he had no equal. The speed, power, and precision required in those final explosive metres are breathtaking. But that’s only half the story.

Perhaps the most telling image of the 2021 Tour de France wasn’t from one of his famous wins. It was a photograph Cavendish himself chose to post on social media: wearing the green jersey of the points leader, sitting at the back of the field, visibly struggling on a mountain stage, surrounded by his teammates.

The mountains were not Cavendish’s arena. These long, brutal climbs through the Pyrenees and Alps are designed for specialist climbers. The air is thin, the gradients steep, and for pure sprinters, every kilometre is a battle. But to have any chance of contesting the flat sprints, Cavendish must first survive these mountain days, and do so within the strict time limits.

That’s where his team came in. On the days that weren’t his, when the course played to the strengths of others, Cavendish was protected and supported by riders whose expertise lies in the climbs. Their sole mission was to pace him, shelter him from the wind, encourage him, and get him over the summit before the cut-off. They did the invisible, essential work that ensured he was still in the race when it matters most.

And Cavendish knew it. That’s why he shared that image, a deliberate acknowledgment that even the greatest need help. He understood that his own brilliance was only possible because he was part of a team filled with specialists whose skills complemented his own. On sprint days, they rode for him. On mountain days, they carried him. Together, they created the conditions for success.

This is the perfect metaphor for leadership and culture. In high-performing organisations, success is never down to one individual alone. Even the most talented need the right environment and the right people around them to reach their potential. It is the leader’s role to build teams where specialist expertise is valued, where people are empowered to do what they do best, and where mutual support is a cultural norm.

Just as Cavendish’s teammates sacrificed themselves to get him over the mountains, there are moments in organisational life when the spotlight isn’t on you, your role is to make sure someone else can reach theirs. At other times, you might be the one in full flight, delivering results that only you can. Both roles are essential, and both require trust, humility, and respect.

A culture that supports and nurtures talent doesn’t just celebrate the wins, it honours the unseen work that makes them possible. When everyone understands that their individual strengths are part of a collective effort, the team becomes unstoppable. And like Cavendish crossing the line, those victories will be sweeter because you know they were earned together.