Mark Cavendish to Retire After Final Race at Tour de France Criterium

Posted : 09 November 2024

Mark Cavendish, hailed as the most accomplished sprinter in cycling, is set to retire following his participation in the Tour de France Criterium in Singapore this Sunday. The 39-year-old from the Isle of Man announced earlier this year that 2023 would mark the end of his professional cycling journey.

Cavendish made headlines in July by breaking the longstanding record for the most Tour de France stage wins, achieving his 35th victory. His illustrious career has seen him clinch numerous accolades, making him a standout figure in the sport.

Throughout his career, Cavendish has garnered an impressive array of achievements. In 2011, he won the road world championship and twice secured the prestigious green jersey at the Tour de France, which recognizes the rider with the most points.

Over nearly two decades in professional racing, he amassed a total of 165 victories, including 17 stage wins in the Giro d'Italia and three in the Vuelta a España. In recognition of his contributions to cycling, he was knighted in October. His track achievements are equally commendable, highlighted by a silver medal in the omnium at the 2016 Olympics and three world championship titles in the madison event.

Cavendish's journey into cycling began with BMX and mountain biking before he transitioned to road racing in 2005 with a feeder team for T-Mobile. His first Tour de France stage win came in 2008 while racing for Team Columbia. Despite struggling with injuries and illness between 2017 and 2020, Cavendish made a remarkable comeback in 2021, winning four more stages and reclaiming the green jersey during his time with Quick Step.

That same year, he and his family experienced a traumatic home invasion, an event that marked a challenging period in his life. His omission from Quick Step's Tour lineup in 2022 led him to join Astana-Qazaqstan for the 2023 season.

Initially planning to retire at the end of 2023, Cavendish decided to extend his career after a crash during the Tour de France prematurely ended his participation. He eventually surpassed cycling legend Eddy Merckx's record for Tour stage wins with a victory in Saint Vulbas, a historic achievement that solidified his legacy. Cavendish's final race in Singapore follows his third-place finish at the Tour de France Saitama Criterium in Japan last weekend, marking the conclusion of an extraordinary and storied career.

Mark Cavendish to Retire After Final Race at Tour de France Criterium

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