Mark Cavendish postpones retirement, aims for 35th Tour de France stage victory in 2024
Posted : 04 October 2023
Mark Cavendish, the legendary sprinter, is postponing his retirement to pursue a record 35th Tour de France stage victory. Initially, it seemed that Cavendish's career was over after he suffered a collarbone injury during the Tour in July, preventing him from surpassing Eddy Merckx's record. However, rumors quickly circulated about his possible return for another year, and now he has confirmed that he will indeed continue riding.
Cavendish will ride for Astana Qazaqstan in 2024, putting his retirement plans on hold. His quest to claim the outright record for stage victories at the Tour de France was halted when he broke his collarbone in July, leaving him tied with Eddy Merckx at 34 wins. Despite announcing his retirement plans in an emotional press conference during the Giro d'Italia in May, the desire to ride on for another year persisted, and he has now made that decision official.
In a video shared on social media, Cavendish mentioned that the idea of continuing for another year was suggested to him by Alexander Vinokourov, Astana's team boss, shortly after his crash during the Tour. He expressed his love for riding his bike and consulted with his children, who encouraged him to carry on for one more year.
Cavendish's Tour de France dreams were dashed in July due to a mechanical issue and a subsequent crash. Nevertheless, he had been very close to breaking his historical record on Stage 7. Vinokourov believes that a true champion should not end his career in this manner, and he persuaded Cavendish to reconsider his decision.
Cavendish's legacy in the pro peloton spans 17 years, making him widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time. He has achieved success in all three Grand Tours, claimed victories at Milano-San Remo and the Road World Championships, and secured an Olympic silver medal in the omnium at Rio 2016. He also holds three world titles in the Madison. His career might conclude at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where the men's road race is scheduled for August 3 next year.
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