The Cervelo S5 has a Di2 battery mount on the down tube(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
A closer look at the forks on Cavendish's bike(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Cavendish has a reputation for constantly adjusting his bike setup, changing handlebar and seat height sometimes daily(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Special edition Oakley Jawbreakers match the Cervelo S5 build(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Cavendish also has a custom, colour-coordinated helmet (Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Cavendish pairs his drivetrain with a KMC X11-SL Green chain, colour-coordinated with the Dimension Data team colours(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Cavendish has raced some stages on his standard team wheels(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
A look at the cockpit setup on Cavendish's bike(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
A number 30 on Cavendish's number plate denotes the number of Tour de France stage wins the former world champion has(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 levers control the shifting and braking(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Cavendish rolls to sign-on ahead of the opening stage of the race(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Cavendish's seat stays feature a chrome exterior while the inside is a white to green chrome fade(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Dimension Data are one of multiple WorldTour teams who use Continental Competition ALX tubular tyres(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
The Cervelo S5 has rounder tubes than more modern aero bikes, which feature more truncated tubing profiles(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Cavendish has used two different sets of ENVE 4.5 SES wheels during the race so far, one pair feature custom Cavendish decals(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
A closer look at the decals on Cavendish's race wheels(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Cavendish's Astute saddle has a colour-coordinated green shell visible from the underside(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Dimension Data began using Astute saddles at the start of the 2018 season(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Cavendish's ENVE wheels use Chris King R45 hubs in emerald green to match the Dimension Data team colours(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
While other sprinters run satellite shifter buttons on the inside of the handlebar drops, Cavendish chooses to run them on the front curve for use with index fingers rather than thumbs(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
The Cervelo S5 features the common hour glass-like head tube profile, which several aero-specific framesets share(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
The frameset features a white bottom bracket area that fades away along the frame tubing(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Cervelo's S-Series seat post for the S5 is focused on aerodynamic performance(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
A look at the non-drive side of Cavendish's bike(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
A closer look at Cavendish's drivetrain(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
The current record holder for Tour stage wins – 34 of them – is Eddy Merckx, who had a reputation for carrying a 5mm hex key in his jersey for on-the-fly bike-fit adjustments throughout his career.
Just four wins away from the Belgian's record, the similarities between the two riders are not limited to their Tour-stage-victory tallies. Like Merckx, Cavendish is a serial bike tinkerer and constantly adjusts his bike fit and setup on an almost daily basis.
Speaking to Cyclingnews ahead of stage six, Cavendish explained some of his reasoning behind the persistent adjustments, after being watched adjusting his handlebars meticulously with two mechanics on hand with hex keys and torque wrenches to lock in Cavendish's desired positioning.
The ENVE SES Aero road stem has an integrated out-front computer mount
"Your body changes from day to day, you know? Your body is shorter in the evening than it is in the morning," he explained. "It's nothing in particular that I change. It might just be a habit.
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"Some people feel a difference, some people don't. I guess I've got less body – I'm so short – and I say that with my tongue in my cheek. It's sometimes the bars, sometimes the saddle just by a couple of millimetres day by day. If I have a bad mattress at a hotel, sometimes my back can be a little bit funny.
"I might be particular, and some people just get on with it, but I like to be comfortable."
Last year's Tour for Cavendish came to a, now infamous, early finish, after he collided with Peter Sagan in the finale of stage four of the race. As he did last year, Cavendish arrived at the 2018 Tour with a custom-painted Cervelo S5 frameset.
Various fades throughout the frameset include chrome, green, black and white, with contrasting decals and fine-finishing details throughout.
Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 levers control the shifting and braking
A Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 groupset provides the shifting and stopping for the Manxman, while Cavendish opts for a 54-tooth outer chainring on his Rotor 2InPower crankset.
Carbon components specialists ENVE finish Cavendish's bike with SES Aero carbon handlebars and stem, and 4.5 SES wheels, which Cavendish has used both in the standard team-issue version and his own set with custom decals to match the finish of his bike.
Cavendish's seat stays feature a chrome exterior while the inside is a white to green chrome fade
As with many sprinters at the top level of the sport, Cavendish runs satellite sprint shifters on his handlebar drops. But, while the common practice is to have the buttons on the inside of the drops, Cavendish runs his on the front, outer edge of the handlebars for use with his index fingers.
While other sprinters run satellite shifter buttons on the inside of the handlebar drops, Cavendish chooses to run them on the front curve for use with index fingers rather than thumbs
Click or swipe through the gallery above for a closer look at the former world champion's aero race bike.
Full specification
Frame: Cervelo S5 in custom colours for Mark Cavendish Fork: Cervelo S5 in custom colours for Mark Cavendish Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 Brake/shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 with satellite shifters Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 Chain: KMC X11-SL Green Crankset: Rotor 2InPower, 54/42 Wheelset: ENVE 4.5 SES with custom decals for Mark Cavendish Tyres: Continental Competition ALX, 25mm tubular Handlebars: ENVE SES Aero Stem: ENVE SES Aero Headset: FSA Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 Handlebar tape/grips: Saddle: Astute Seat post: Cervelo S-Series Bottle cages: Elite Vico Carbon
