Mark Cavendish reveals retirement plans after final Tour de France: ‘Likely so, yeah’
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Mark Cavendish announced that it was probably his last race after finishing the final stage of the Tour de France on Sunday.
The 39-year-old decided not to retire as planned and instead came back this season to try and break the record for the most Tour stage wins. He accomplished this goal by winning stage five and earning his 35th career Tour stage victory in Saint-Vulbas.
It was uncertain if the Manx rider would finish the season with his Astana-Qazaqstan squad, but after his family greeted him at the finish line of the 34km time trial from Monaco to Nice, marking the end of this Tour, Cavendish hinted that his successful career might be coming to a close.
When questioned if this race was his final one, Cavendish paused for a moment before replying, "Most likely, yes."
The Paris Olympics changed things up for this year's Tour de France, ending with a time trial on the Cote d'Azur instead of the usual sprint on the Champs-Elysees in the capital.
Cavendish was crying after the two tough Alpine stages earlier, as he struggled to stay within the time limit and finish his final Tour de France. However, he was able to bounce back and enjoy this day by interacting with fans along the roadside, giving them high-fives.
"Initially, my main goal was to finish within the time limit, but I managed the climb well and felt confident in my abilities," stated Cavendish. "I am familiar with these roads, as I have trained extensively in this area. Now, it's just about savoring the experience."
"I didn't feel any stress today, which was unusual for the last stage of the Tour. I was aware that my family would be waiting for me at the finish line, so I just soaked it all in. I already dealt with all my emotions yesterday, so today I could truly savor the moment."
Mark Renshaw, who was a teammate of Cavendish for a long time and now works as his sports director, was heard encouraging his friend on the last stage through the race radio.
While tackling the steep slopes of the Col d'Eze, Renshaw exclaimed, "You're familiar with this climb! Let's push through. Come on, this is your final climb, buddy - give it your all!"
As Cavendish neared the end of the race, Renshaw was there to congratulate him on his career, saying: "Great job. I'm proud of you."
In a video shared on the official social media accounts of the Tour, Cavendish's loved ones, friends, past teammates, and competitors honored his accomplishments.
His wife Peta expressed her joy at the news of his retirement after only trying twice. She jokingly warned him not to get any ideas from the success of Tadej Pogacar. She proudly stated how proud she was of him.
It's not about the victories or achievements, those are nice, but it's really about the hidden aspects, the personal drive, the dedication, perseverance, and hard work. I admire your unique qualities and the effort you put in, even when no one is watching.
We care about you and I can't wait to spend more time with you.
Sir Bradley Wiggins commented that you are now considered the greatest of all time in his opinion.
Peter Sagan, who has been world champion three times, praised Cavendish for his incredible career and for demonstrating his resilience. This was in recognition of Cavendish's struggles with illness and injury, including his battle with depression before his successful return at the 2021 Tour.
Cavendish has achieved a total of 165 wins in his professional road cycling career. This includes winning the world title in 2011 and 55 wins in Grand Tours. His impressive record places him third on the all-time list of most wins.
In his career, he has won the Madison world championship three times and earned a silver medal in the omnium event at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
