Mark Cavendish has confirmed that he will retire on Sunday, ending a glittering career that saw him break the all-time record for most stage wins at the Tour de France and win four world titles on the track and road.
Cavendish announced his decision with a post on his Instagram feed, which showed his greatest victories before ending with a simple message: “My racing career … completed it.”
The 39-year-old, who announced his retirement last year before reversing that decision, said he would hang his cleats up after the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium.
“Sunday will be the final race of my professional cycling career,” said Cavendish, who also won 17 stages of the Giro D’Italia, three in the Vuelta a España, and an Olympic silver medal in the omnium in 2016. “I am lucky enough to have done what I love for almost 20 years and I can now say that I have achieved everything that I can on the bike.
“Cycling has given me so much and I love the sport, I’ve always wanted to make a difference in it and now I am ready to see what the next chapter has in store for me.”
Earlier this year Cavendish, who is known as the Manx Missile because of his speed and aggressiveness in sprint finishes, won his 35th Tour de France stage, putting him clear on the all-time list ahead of Eddy Merckx.
That record was achieved in a typical Cavendish fashion, as he accelerated clear in the last few metres in Saint-Vulbas before raising his arms in triumph as he crossed the finish line. He also departs having won 165 overall stage victories, ranking him second on the all time list behind only Merckx.
“I love the sport and I’ve always wanted to make a difference in it and that will not change whether I am on the bike or not,” said Cavendish, who was knighted in July.
“It’s always been the biggest privilege to represent my country, and seeing cycling as the sport, pastime and mode of transport I’ve given my life to grow in Great Britain during the span of my career, has given me joy and pride beyond words. I’m truly thankful to everybody that has lived this journey with me.”
His first coach, Dot Tilbury, 74, said that even as a young lad Cavendish had a single-minded determination to succeed which has never left him. “He was just totally focused on winning,” she said. “Second or third was no use to him. One of his teachers told me that when he was discussing his GCSE options, he said to them: ‘Well, I’ll do this, but I won’t need it because I’m going to be a professional racer.’
