British cycling great Mark Cavendish announces his retirement

FRANCE 24

9 November 2024 at 8:09 am·2-min read

British rider Mark Cavendish broke the record for Tour de France stage wins with his 35th victory in July.

Cycling great Mark Cavendish announced his retirement from the sport on Saturday, writing on social media that his final race will be Sunday's Tour de France Criterium in Singapore.

It's the end of his glittering career. The world's most decorated sprinter, Mark Cavendish announced on Saturday that he will compete in his final professional race on Sunday at the two-day Tour de France Criterium in Singapore.

"Sunday will be the final race of my professional cycling career," wrote the 39-year-old British sprint legend, the record stage winner on the Tour de France with 35, in a post on Instagram.

"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."

Cavendish made Tour de France history last July when he eclipsed Eddy Merckx's record which had stood since 1975, having matched the Belgian's mark in 2021.

"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," the rider from the Isle of Man said.

"I love this sport, I always have loved this sport. I want to make a difference on the bike; I always have wanted to make a difference in it that will not change whether I'm on the bike or not."

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)

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