"The speed here is ridiculous. In 2008, a 52x11 gearing was standard. Now a 54 is standard, some go 55. The lead-out trains are a lot more efficient. The power these guys have… I'm 36 but I'm a massive fan of all these young guys, I wanted to race against them."
He had regrets, though, for one rider who was not there and who has racked up more than a few Grand Tour stage wins on his own account, Lotto Soudal's Caleb Ewan, who was among the green jersey favourites before crashing out of the race on stage 3.
"Honestly, I'm so sad for my friend Caleb," Cavendish said. "Honestly he's the one I see that can really play out a sprint, he's small and jumps from wheel to wheel. It would have been an honour just to sprint against him.
"We spoke the other day and I told him it's going to be hard, sit at home when the race is going on, but it makes it all the sweeter when you come back."