The British Mark Cavendish, considered one of the best sprinters in history and holder of the record for stage victories in the Tour de France, announced Monday that he will leave cycling at the end of the season.
“I have simply loved riding every kilometer of this race so far, so I feel like this is the perfect moment to say that this is my last Tour of Italy and that 2023 will be my last season as a professional cyclist,” he declared on Monday. ‘Cav’, at a press conference, on the last rest day of the Giro.
Flanked by his children and his wife, the Astana rider was emotional and emotional as he recalled that cycling has been his life for over 25 years.
“I lived an absolute dream. Cycling gave me the opportunity to see the world and meet amazing people, many of whom I am proud to call friends. I love the sport more than you can imagine and I don’t see myself being too far from it. That’s for sure,” he said.
A professional since 2007, Cavendish began to stand out on the track -he won three world titles in Madison and Olympic silver in the Rio 2016 omnium-, but it was on the road that he became one of the most prominent figures in world cycling in the XXI century. century.
“When you realize that [a carreira] it doesn’t last forever, it’s easier to appreciate every sensation that this sport gives you”, conceded the cyclist, who has already been the third and fourth stages of this edition of the ‘corsa rosa’.
Record holder of stage victories in the Tour de France (34), together with Belgian Eddy Merckx, the Briton was hired by Astana after the start of this season, after being ‘stopped’ with the collapse of the B&B Hotels project, a team with which he that he had signed a contract for 2023 and that he disappeared due to lack of funds.
The experienced British sprinter, who turned 38 this Sunday, left Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl at the end of last season, as he was ‘covered’ in the Belgian team by the Dutchman Fabio Jakobsen, chosen for the Tour de France.
After a career of 161 wins, Cavendish signed for Astana with the stated goal of ‘breaking ties’ with Merckx and isolating himself as the most victorious Tour de France ever.
Considered by many to be the best sprinter in history, the Briton is also the third cyclist with the most stage wins in the Grand Tour, with 53 (he has 16 in the Giro and three in the Vuelta, in addition to 34 in the Tour). ), behind only Merckx (64) and retired Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini (57, 42 of which in the Giro).
Long distance world champion in 2011 and twice winner of the regularity classification of the Tour (2011 and 2021), ‘Cav’ became famous as the ‘bad boy’ of the peloton at the beginning of his career: he headbutted his opponents during the sprints, he was disqualified for dangerous maneuvers and insulted journalists – but, in recent seasons, he has been transfigured.
Looking lost and tearful at the end of 2020, he even admitted that Gent-Wevelgem would most likely have been the last race of his career, following a disastrous season with Bahrain-McLaren.
But Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, the team in which he was happiest, gave him a new opportunity, and the man from the Isle of Man once again had great moments on the bike, especially the four stages he won in the 2021 Tour.
Now the reigning British long distance champion, whose photographic memory and high IQ are well known, hopes to bid farewell to the peloton with his 35th victory on the Grande Boucle, an achievement that would further enhance his legend, but one in which he insists himself. not be an obsession
“If I had 45 Tour de France victories, I would still go to the Tour to win. Like if I was 18, I would also look for 19 ”, he concluded.
Source: TSF
