Professional cyclist Mark Cavendish is making what is likely his last attempt to set the Tour de France stage win record. The 39-year-old will be part of the squad for the 111th Tour de France, which begins on Saturday, announced the Kazakh team Astana. This will be Cavendish’s 15th participation in the Tour.
The Briton currently shares the record for most stage wins with Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx. Cavendish equaled Merckx’s record in 2021. Since then, both have been at the top of the rankings with 34 victories each.
Cavendish announced in May last year that he would end his career at the end of 2023. The record was actually supposed to be broken last year. After a fall on the eighth stage of the Tour de France, Cavendish broke his collarbone. The race and the Tour were over for him.
Cavendish is one of the most successful sprinters in cycling
In the autumn, Cavendish announced that he would stay on for another year. Given the strong competition from sprint stars such as Belgian Jasper Philipsen, Cavendish’s mission in his 18th professional season will be anything but easy. Last year, Philipsen won four stages in the Tour.
Cavendish has had great success in his career both on the velodrome and in road cycling races. The Brit is, among other things, a three-time world champion in the Madison track cycling discipline and a one-time world champion in road racing. He has also won more than 50 stages in the three major national tours: the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España, making him one of the most successful sprinters in road cycling.
Professional cyclist Mark Cavendish is making what is likely his last attempt to set the Tour de France stage win record. The 39-year-old will be part of the squad for the 111th Tour de France, which begins on Saturday, announced the Kazakh team Astana. This will be Cavendish’s 15th participation in the Tour.
The Briton currently shares the record for most stage wins with Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx. Cavendish equaled Merckx’s record in 2021. Since then, both have been at the top of the rankings with 34 victories each.
