Astana Kazakstan team manager Alexander Vinokurov says Mark Cavendish has "five or six" chances to win a record 35th stage at the Tour de France, while the most important thing is for the veteran fastman to "keep his cool He insists that the most important thing is to "keep your cool.

Cavendish, who finished sixth in Monday's stage 3, will have another chance to claim victory on stage 4, Nogaro, before the race enters the Pyrenees.

After stage 3, Cavendish praised his Astana Kazakstan teammate for putting him in position for the final sprint.

"I think he is in a good position," Vinokourov told the Spanish newspaper AS. 'He's happy with his team and his teammates, and winning the Giro d'Italia means he's highly motivated.'

"Our big goal is to win a stage, but he has to stay calm. That is the most important thing."

"If he wins here it will be very good not only for him but also for the team. It would be a great way to end his career. I don't want to put him under any more stress than he is feeling right now. We went cycling together the day before the Tour and I told him he needs to chill out."

Vinokourov insisted that the team's other goal, besides Cavendish, was to get into the break on a heel day. Others include Luis Leon Sanchez and David de la Cruz.

"They have a chance, especially in the mountain stages, but Lutsenko is probably the strongest for that," Vinokurov argued.

For Astana Kazakstan, however, Tuesday's fourth stage will be all about Cavendish anyway.