Cycling legend Mark Cavendish has announced his retirement, and this Sunday’s Tour de France Singapore Criterium will be his final professional race.
The 39-year-old British sprinter, known for breaking the Tour de France stage win record with 35 victories, shared his decision on Instagram, stating, “Sunday will be the final race of my professional cycling career.”
Cavendish expressed his deep affection for the sport and his desire to continue making an impact even after his retirement. He reflects on a storied career that includes surpassing Eddy Merckx’s record set in 1975, having equalled the Belgian’s total in 2021. “I am fortunate to have pursued my passion for nearly two decades, achieving everything possible in this sport,” he remarked.
Since beginning his Tour de France journey in 2008 and becoming the world road race champion in 2011, Cavendish has accumulated 165 professional wins, including significant stage victories in the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España. Despite speculation about his participation in next year’s Tour de France, Cavendish had remained non-committal.
After finishing third-place at the Saitama Criterium in Japan last weekend, he avoided retirement discussions, stating, “I’d rather not talk about my future.” However, the speculation ended with his recent announcement.
Jasper Philipsen, who edged out Cavendish in last year’s Singapore race, acknowledged the challenge of defending his title against a highly motivated Cavendish in his final race. “It’s always difficult to repeat, especially with Mark ending his illustrious career here in Singapore,” Philipsen noted.
The upcoming race will see 36 cyclists from nine teams compete, including notable figures like Chris Froome, Primoz Roglic, and emerging talent Biniam Girmay. They will race 25 laps around Singapore’s 2.3-kilometer Civic District circuit, where Cavendish will bid farewell to his professional cycling career.
