Mark Cavendish surprises upset fan Evan, 5, ‘to cheer us both up’ after Tour de France axe
MARK CAVENDISH made a young lad's day after he burst into tears following his Tour de France omission.
The Manx Missile, 34, was left out of Team Dimension Data's squad for the three-week race, where is the second-most prolific stage winner ever.
And young Evan Llewellyn, 5, welled up after hearing that Cavendish wouldn't be able to go for the record 34 stage wins this summer because he'd been left out.
So Cav and wife Peta made a six-hour round-trip from Essex to Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire with his bike and kit to take the lad for a spin.
Evan's mum, Louise Llewellyn shared heartwarming pictures of them having a ride in the sunshine in Dimenson Data kit.
She tweeted: "Evan would like to thank his hero @MarkCavendish and @petatodd for making his dream come true.
"The experience they have just given him will last a life time - I don't know what to say... THANK YOU!"
The cycling star replied: "It was an absolute pleasure Evan! Couldn't bear to see you sad.
"I knew a bike ride would cheer us both up. See you soon."
Evan said: "I wished I could ride with Cav one day... now it's true, I really did!"
For Cavendish it has been a tough few days after the heartbreak of missing out on the Tour.
The decision not to select him for the biggest race in the sport has caused a massive rift in Dimenson Data's top brass.
'I'M JUST SAD'
Top coach Rolf Aldag has revealed that Cavendish's form was better than in 2016 going into this year's race — when he won four stages.
But he Aldag was overruled by principal Doug Ryder — who dodged the team's press conference in Brussels ahead of the start of the race.
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British team-mate Steve Cummings, 38, who IS riding in Brussels, admitted he has sympathy for Cavendish.
He said: "I'm just sad. From being a long-term friend.
"He's a legend of the Tour de France and it's a big call to leave him out."
