Mark Cavendish has set his sights on reclaiming the green jersey when the Tour de France begins on July 4.

The ‘Manxman’ clinched the green jersey – for the rider who finishes top of the overall points classification – in 2011 but is now intent on winning it back from Tinkoff-Saxo’s Peter Sagan, who has come out on top in each of the last three years.

The Etixx–QuickStep man, speaking to Cycling Weekly, said: “I’d love to win the green. The way to do it is just to win stages. There’s no other tactic.

“Etixx–QuickStep is the team that’s most qualified to do well in the first weeks so we’re looking forward to it.”

The race begins in the Netherlands and crossing Belgium, moves into France on day four.

And Cavendish, who has a property in Ongar, believes he may even have a shot of wearing the yellow jersey for the opening week at least.

He said: “The opening nine days really suits our team down to the ground [due to] the cross-winds, cobbles and small narrow roads.

“It’s the first year since I turned pro that the Tour de France has time bonuses, so there’s the opportunity to maybe get the yellow jersey throughout the first week as well.”

The 30-year-old from the Isle of Man is third in the all-time record for stage wins in the Tour de France, with 25, nine behind the legendary Belgian Eddy Merckx at the top, who won the Tour five times.

He needs just four more stage wins to overtake Frenchman Bernard Hinault, who was also victorious in the Tour on five occasions, in second.