British cyclist Mark Cavendish is expected to retire following his participation in the final stage of this year's Tour de France on Sunday, as he achieved his long-held goal of becoming the record holder for most stage wins at the event.
The 39-year-old, commencing the individual time trial from Monaco to Nice—the last leg of the tour—experienced a range of emotions upon nearing the finish line and waved to onlookers in the crowd.
“I felt no particular pressure during this stage; it was just about enjoying myself,” Cavendish explained, with his family eagerly awaiting his arrival at the end. "Yesterday's events allowed me to release some emotions, enabling today to be purely enjoyable."
When asked whether this race may mark the conclusion of his professional cycling career, Cavendish responded: “Probably so.”
Despite announcing retirement in May 2021, he chose to postpone his decision following a persuasive appeal from his Astana-Qazaqstan team. This encouragement motivated him to strive for the Tour de France stage win record one final time.
Until recently, Cavendish's standing in the record was tied with Eddy Merckx at 34 wins since 2021. However, an unfortunate incident from last year's race led him to desire a departure different from his current path.
Cavendish, who earned victory on stage five this year, notched his 165th career win and was crowned the road world champion in 2011. Additionally, he clinched an individual silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and secured three world titles in the Madison discipline during his track career.
Reflecting on his journey, Cavendish remarked: “I’ve been extremely fortunate with my career thus far, working alongside exceptional individuals and meeting incredible people along the way. It has indeed felt like a shared dream.”
While this may be his last professional cycling event, he intends to remain involved in future tours as an enthusiast supporter: "This touring endeavor has been integral to my life for nearly two decades, and it's no doubt woven into the fabric of my broader aspirations. It has always been part of me."
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