If I was Mark Cavendish, upon reading this thread I’d probably bet a vast amount of money I wouldn’t be beaten in any hill climb by a non pro. When someone of the “In the Cavendish can’t climb” school of thought took the bait I’d probably organise said hill climb and either: Shortly after beginning, don a smoking jacket and ride past other cyclist whilst lighting a pipe/ ride side by side with the opposer, have a domestique deliver a tuba and do a quick re-enactment of the family guy scene with stewie and the fat guy/ dress as a clown and race on a bike with tiny wheels/ give the opposer a scooter and draft it like a derny pacer shouting allez! allez! before putting the hammer down and passing it.
(Un)Fortunately I’d imagine Mr Cavendish is a little more gracious than I, so we’ll never get to see the spectacle of a naysayer being blown into the weeds up a dirty big climb, by the world champ riding up no handed whilst playing the tuba.
By way of a point to this post, I’d imagine he’s actually quite handy up a hill…
Iain