Legendary road sprinter Mark Cavendish plans to retire on Sunday after competing in the Tour de France Criterium.
At 39, Cavendish surpassed Eddy Merckx’s long-standing record for the most career Tour de France stage wins, claiming his 35th victory in July.
Reflecting on his career, the Isle of Man native shared on Instagram Saturday, “I’ve been fortunate to do what I love for 20 years, and now I can say I’ve achieved everything I can on the bike.”
Grateful for his time in the sport, Cavendish added, “Cycling has given me so much. I’ve always wanted to make a difference, and now I’m ready to see what’s next.”
Known as the “Manx Missile,” Cavendish confirmed Sunday’s race will be “the final race of my professional cycling career.” Initially, he planned to retire after the 2023 season but returned with the goal of surpassing Merckx’s Tour de France stage wins.
Cavendish had equaled Merckx’s record of 34 stage wins in the 2021 Tour. Though he never won the overall title, he achieved stage wins at all three Grand Tours—the Giro d’Italia, Spanish Vuelta, and Tour de France—and became a world champion in 2011.
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