Mark Cavendish: British cycling legend committed to completing 2024 race plans
Sir Mark Cavendish says he is still committed to completing his 2024 race schedule after receiving his knighthood at Windsor Castle.
Cavendish, 39, has not competed since he broke the Tour de France stage wins record with his 35th victory in July.
The ‘Manx Missile’ said following the final stage of his 15th Tour this summer that it was “likely” the final race of his career.
On his future in the sport, Cavendish said: “I’ve still got races this year. I’m still training for them, it will be really nice to race as a Knight Commander.”
Cavendish first hinted at retirement at the end of the 2020 season, having not won at the Tour since 2018, but returned to form the following year.
After the heartbreak of his race-ending crash in 2023 when on the verge of history, Cavendish delayed his retirement and signed a contract extension with the Astana-Qazaqstan Team until the end of the 2024 season.
And while he did not confirm any retirement plans, he reiterated that he would not race the Tour again.
“I’ve already said I won’t do another Tour de France,” Cavendish said.
“That’s public knowledge, I won’t do another Tour de France.”
Cavendish, from the Isle of Man, surpassed the legendary Eddy Merckx in Saint Vulbas, having jointly held the record for most Tour stage wins with the Belgian since 2021.
Widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time, Cavendish has won 165 races since 2005, including the 2011 world road title, while he also won Olympic omnium silver at Rio 2016.
On receiving his knighthood on Wednesday, Cavendish said: “I was really nervous. His royal highness was superb. I didn’t honestly know I’d be nervous, but I’m so incredibly proud of representing the country.
“I am very fortunate to have got to do what I love for so many years, and to see other people inspired by that and riding bikes themselves.”
He added: “It wonderful. You know, I’m just a lad from the Isle of Man, to be a Knight Commander, that’s not something I could ever have dreamed of.”
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