British cyclist Mark Cavendish may retire after completing the final stage of the Tour de France on Sunday, having finally achieved his ambition to break the Tour de France record for most stage wins this year.
Cavendish, 39, is the second cyclist to compete in the individual time trial from Monaco to Nice, the final race of this year’s Tour de France. It was exciting to go up there.
“It’s just about enjoying it. There was no pressure for me today, which is strange for the final stage of the Tour. I know my family is waiting at the finish and that makes me happy. “I think I got over it yesterday After all the emotions, I think I can really enjoy today. “
Asked if it was indeed his last game, Cavendish paused and said: “That’s probably the case, yes.”
He had previously announced his retirement in May last year, but his Astana-Kazakhstan team convinced him to delay the decision in October in a last-ditch effort to secure a Tour de France stage victory record.
The Isle of Man Flyers have tied Eddy Merckx for stage wins on 34 starts so far in 2021, and after crashing out of last year’s event, it’s not the way he wanted to bow out.
Cavendish, who won his first Tour de France stage in 2008, realized his dream this year with a successful sprint on stage five, the 165th victory of his career, which included a road win in 2011 world champion.
The Isle of Man native also won an individual silver medal in track and field at the 2016 Rio Olympics and has three career world titles in track and field events in Madison.
“I’ve been very, very lucky to have the career that I’ve had, to work with the people that I’ve had, to meet the people that I’ve had, and to be able to live a dream, like everybody’s dream,” Cavendish said. “
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“Of course I will come back to the Tour de France, even as a spectator. This is my career for 18, 16 years, I don’t even know.
“It’s been part of my wider life and dreams for 30 years. I’m sure it’s always been there.
