The Briton had earned his first stage win at the race since 2016 earlier this week.

The result confirmed an upturn in Cavendish’s fortunes, with the 36-year-old’s career having been threatened by the Epstein-Barr virus.

The prospect of further emotional scenes was raised by the 160-kilometre sixth stage taking riders from Tours to Châteauroux, where Cavendish won his maiden victory at the race back in 2008.

Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet of Belgium and Germany's Roger Kluge sought to defy the sprinters with a breakaway, but the duo were caught in the final 2km.

Denmark’s Michael Mørkøv guided Deceuninck-QuickStep colleague Cavendish to the wheels of the Alpecin-Fenix team in the closing metres.

Cavendish produced the fastest finish to beat Alpecin-Fenix’s Jasper Philipsen to the line, crossing in a winning time of 3 hours 17min 36sec.

Cavendish placed both hands on his head in celebration, mirroring his celebration back in 2008.

Philipsen finished on the same time as the winner in second, with the Belgian followed by France’s Nacer Bouhanni.

Cavendish has now won all three sprint finishes he has contested in Châteauroux, with the victory adding to triumphs in 2008 and 2011.

"It’s been 10 years since I last won here, and it’s pretty special to do it again," Cavendish said.

"I won today in pretty similar fashion to what I did years ago, and it was very helpful to know the home straight.

"We were talking about what to do in the final because there are so many strong sprint teams here all wanting to go for the front.

"To take it on is a big ask, you always get swamped at the finish.

"As usual it was the other team that shared the work with us, Alpecin-Fenix, who came with the strongest team in the end.

"Michael [Mørkøv] left the left-hand side for me to go, but I wanted just a split second longer in the wheels before I went, so I had to switch trains and go from there.

"But I'm so happy with that."

Cavendish has now won 50 stages at Grand Tour races, with his 32nd at the Tour de France moving him two shy of Eddy Merckx’s Tour de France record of 34.

The Briton has played down suggestions he is targeting the Belgian icon's record.

"Don’t even say the name," Cavendish said post-race.

"I’m not thinking of anything.

"I just want to win stages on this Tour de France.

"If I’m good enough to win 50 stages more, nice.

"If this is my last one, so be it."

Race leader Mathieu van der Poel remains in the yellow jersey after finishing safely in the peloton.

The Dutch rider is eight seconds clear of defending champion Tadej Pogačar of Slovenia.

The peloton will tackle a 249km route from Vierzon to Le Creusot tomorrow, the longest stage of this year’s race.