Mark Cavendish’s future with Etixx-QuickStep is up in the air after the Manxman failed to hit the five-stage win target set by team boss Patrick Lefevere prior to the Tour de France.

Chris Froome set Tour history by becoming the first Brit to scoop multiple wins, adding to his success in 2013 and eclipsing former Team Sky teammate Sir Bradley Wiggins in the process.

But for Cavendish, 30, it was a rather more sobering experience as he struggled to make much ground up on legendary Belgian Eddie Merckx’s record 34 wins on Le Tour.

Cavendish, who has a property in Ongar, could only add one victory to his total of 25 going into the Tour – on stage seven to Fougeres. But with his Etixx contract up this summer, Cavendish could find himself out of a job after finishing sixth to Andre Greipel in a sprint finish on Sunday’s final stage to the Champs-Elysees.

Speaking afterwards, Cavendish said: “We knew we were going to strong in the first week, it is definitely the hardest tour I have ever done.

“We survived to try and get to here, and you can see it’s taken its toll on me a little bit. I have had bronchitis for the last couple of days and a fever last night.

“I still thought with 110km we would give it a shot, but actually is was not really my fitness that let me down to day, it was just some more organised trains if I am honest. I kind of just chose the wrong wheel I guess.”

And Cavendish found little sympathy from sporting director Brian Holm, who said: “Let’s be honest it’s been four times for Greipel, it’s a great run isn’t it?

“It was a pure sprint and it’s no coincidence that Greipel won three stages before and he picked number four, he was simply better. ”

Holm added: “I know he was a bit ill and he didn’t feel well, but that’s part of the race and a lot of riders start to feel unwell.”