Mark Cavendish has confirmed he will retire on Sunday, ending a career that includes the all-time record for most stage victories at the Tour de France and four world titles on the track and road.
The 39-year-old, who announced his retirement last May before reversing that decision five months later, revealed his decision with a post on Instagram, which showed his greatest victories before ending with a simple message: “My racing career … completed it.”
Cavendish 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 won 17 stages of the Giro D’Italia, three in the Vuelta a España, an Olympic silver medal in the Omnium in 2016, the Milan-San Remo in 2009 and a Commonwealth scratch gold in 2006 representing the Isle of Man.
“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.”
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 typical 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 retires with 165 stage victories, ranking him second on the all-time list behind Merckx.
“I love the sport 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.’”
