Mark Cavendish to Retire After Singapore Tour de France Criterium on Sunday
Mark Cavendish, widely celebrated as the most successful sprinter in cycling history, will officially retire from professional racing after the Tour de France Criterium in Singapore on Sunday. The 39-year-old British cyclist, hailing from the Isle of Man, made the announcement earlier in May, affirming that 2023 would be his final season. Cavendish broke the Tour de France stage-win record in July, securing his 35th career victory and surpassing cycling legend Eddy Merckx, who had held the record since the 1970s.
Cavendish’s career, spanning nearly two decades, has been marked by unparalleled accomplishments and resilience. His achievements include winning the 2011 Road World Championship and twice claiming the Tour de France green jersey, awarded to the points leader in the race. Cavendish has amassed an astounding 165 victories, including 17 stage wins in the Giro d’Italia and three in the Vuelta a España, further cementing his legacy as one of cycling’s most prolific athletes. Recognized for his contributions to sport, he was knighted in October, becoming Sir Mark Cavendish.
In addition to his accomplishments on the road, Cavendish’s versatility extended to the track, where he captured a silver medal in the omnium event at the 2016 Olympics and won the madison world championship title three times. His passion for cycling began in BMX and mountain biking before he turned to professional road racing in 2005 with T-Mobile’s feeder team. He won his first Tour stage in 2008 for Team Columbia, kickstarting a career defined by an aggressive and dynamic sprinting style that earned him global acclaim.
Despite his success, Cavendish’s career has also been marked by adversity. Between 2017 and 2020, he faced numerous injuries and health setbacks, leading him to consider retirement in 2020. However, a resurgence in form saw him return to the Tour de France with Quick Step in 2021, where he won four stages and reclaimed the green jersey. His determination through challenging times has solidified his reputation as one of the sport’s most resilient figures.
Outside of racing, Cavendish and his family experienced a traumatic home invasion in 2021, an incident that highlighted the personal challenges he faced off the bike. Following his omission from Quick Step’s Tour squad in 2022, Cavendish joined Astana-Qazaqstan for the 2023 season. Although initially set to retire that year, a crash forced him out of the Tour and ultimately led him to delay his retirement, allowing him one more year to leave his mark on the sport.
Reflecting on his career, Cavendish expressed gratitude for his journey and the sport that shaped his life. “Racing career – completed it,” he wrote on Instagram, adding, “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.” With his retirement in Singapore, Cavendish leaves behind an unmatched legacy in cycling, and fans around the world await his next chapter.
