The announcement came at a press conference on Monday, May 22, during the second rest day of the Tour of Italy cycling: Mark Cavendish, 38, is competing in his last professional races this year. "This is my last Giro, and 2023 will be my last season," said the Briton, moved and surrounded by his wife and children in Coccaglio, Lombardy.
“For over twenty-five years, cycling has given me the chance to travel the world and meet incredible people. This sport has taught me so many things about life, dedication, loyalty, team spirit, sacrifice, humility… all those important things that I try, as a father, to show my children “, he argued.
World champion in 2011, the sprinter from the Isle of Man has set himself the ultimate goal of winning a 35th stage victory in the Tour de France this summer (from July 1 to 23), and thus breaking the record which he currently shares with the Belgian Eddy Merckx.
He is yet to lift his arms this season - his 17th in the peloton - but he remains competitive as shown by his third place in the 11th stage of the Giro.
"A book with all the greatest cyclists"
Winner of Milan-San Remo in 2009, the former track racer has one of the finest records in his sport: he has won 161 victories in his career, 34 in the Tour de France, 16 in the Giro and 3 in the Vuelta, as well than the points classification of the three Grand Tours.
"At the start of my career, I was asked what I wanted," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport this winter. I replied that if there was a book with all the greatest cyclists, I wanted to be in it, no matter where. »
At the end of the contract with Quick-Step and after the aborted project to sign with formation B
Two other figures in the peloton have already announced their retirement for the end of the season: Slovak Peter Sagan and Frenchman Thibaut Pinot.
