Cavendish eyes eight stage wins in 2010 Tour de France

 MARK Cavendish is not one to set his targets low and the sprint king believes he can capture victory in no less than eight stages in the 2010 Tour de France.

 BETTER AND BETTER: Mark Cavendish looks to continue his excellent grand Tour form in 2010

Cavendish won six stages of this year's race, taking his Grand Tour tally to 15 and has already amassed more than 50 career victories despite having just turned 24 in May.

As the route for the 97th Tour de France was announced in Paris on Wednesday, it was the climbers rather than the sprinters licking their lips with anticipation, with a gruelling schedule that will see the peleton scale the 2115m high Col du Tourmalet on two occasions.

But Cavendish is confident he can claim victory in as many as eight stages, as well as securing the green jersey, having been edged out of the points competition this year by Thor Hushovd.

"The mountain stages come along but I don't really pay them much attention - but the flatter ones I've been counting on my hands," said Cavendish.

"There are definitely five sprinting stages and possibly eight. There are three in the first week and then I believe one in the second week and one in the third.

"As far as the green jersey is concerned I'm going to have to grab as much as I can in the first week because after that I won't have that many chances."

In this year's race, Cavendish refused to commit to targeting the points competition, but having gained control of it, hinted at his desire to arrive in Paris wearing the green jersey.

The Manxman would have edged out Hushovd following his thumping victory on the Champs-Elysees, but for a disqualification in stage 14 in which he allegedly forced the Norwegian into the barriers.

But Cavendish insists he will be gunning for green in 2010.

"Firstly the organisers need to make sure there are no bent barriers in the roads," said the Columbia-HTC rider.

"What happened with Thor was forgotten in the race. This year I don't know if I will be as dominant but I'll be giving it my best shot.

"We have a very dominant squad but we also have general classification ambitions again. Hopefully I will get the support from my team and can focus on the sprint stages again."