“It’s not over yet.” With this revealing statement, Astana Qazaqstan Team announced today that Mark Cavendish will continue as a professional cyclist for one more year. The 38-year-old British rider had initially planned to retire after this year, but after his crash and withdrawal from the Tour de France, plans changed.
It’s no surprise that Cavendish is continuing for another year. In the weeks following his crash at the Tour, there was already much speculation about his future. The Italian website Tuttobiciweb reported in July that Cavendish was close to a contract extension with his current team, Astana Qazaqstan Team. A few months later, La Gazzetta dello Sport came out with the same information, and now the decision has been made.
Cavendish announced his retirement at the end of May, during the Giro d’Italia. Shortly after, he won the final stage of that competition and went on to attempt another victory in the Tour de France. Cavendish achieved good placements, but the victory did not come. In the eighth stage, he suffered a heavy crash, fracturing his collarbone.
The dream of achieving his 35th stage win in the Tour and becoming the all-time record holder in stage wins seemed to be slipping away. However, Cavendish is giving it his all in the Tour de France once again in 2024, hoping to surpass the record of the greatest of all time, Eddy Merckx.