Mark Cavendish is back, ready to chase history in his final Tour de France. The cycling legend announced his retirement last year, eyeing one more stage win to break Eddy Merckx’s record. Cavendish has 34 stage wins, tied with Merckx.
Last year, Cavendish nearly achieved his goal on stage seven into Bordeaux but was thwarted by a mechanical issue. A day later, a crash took him out of the race with a broken collarbone. It was a heartbreaking end for the cycling icon.
Persuaded by his family and Astana-Qazaqstan team, Cavendish decided to ride one more year. Now, at 39, he’s back on the start line, newly knighted and determined.
Astana has put everything into supporting Cavendish this time. They brought in Michael Morkov and Davide Ballerini, key figures in his 2021 success, to strengthen his lead-out train.
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Cavendish’s season started strong with a win in Colombia but faced setbacks due to illness and missing a time cut in Tirreno-Adriatico. However, he bounced back, securing a morale-boosting victory in the Tour de Hongrie.
Training in Athens and racing at the Tour de Suisse, Cavendish is preparing for the Tour’s challenging start in Italy. His power numbers are close to his 2021 levels, according to team insiders.
This year’s Tour offers eight sprint stages, although only five are pure sprints. The competition will be fierce, with rivals like Jasper Philipsen, Fabio Jakobsen, and Tim Merlier. Yet, doubters have repeatedly been proven wrong by Cavendish.
Whether or not he claims another stage win, Cavendish has the chance to end his Tour career on his own terms. This final run is more than a race; it’s a tribute to one of cycling’s greatest.
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