Home > News

Mark Cavendish will retire from professional cycling at the end of season

Sprinter made the announcement the day after his 38th birthday

Mark Cavendish retires from cycling Photo by: Astana-Qazaqstan

Mark Cavendish, the sprinter from the Isle of Man, will make his final appearance in the Giro d’Italia this year. Cav used the last rest day to announce his retirement from professional cycling at the end of the 2023 season. This comes a day after his 38th birthday on Sunday.

The Tour organizers sassed Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl hard for not bringing Cavendish

Throughout his career, which began in 2007, Cavendish has left a lasting impact on the sport. The Manx Missile boasts an impressive record with more than 160 victories to his name, including the world road championships in 2011. His palmarès includes sixteen individual stage wins and two team time trial victories at the Giro d’Italia, as well as thirty-four stage wins at the Tour de France, equalling the legendary Eddy Merckx’s record. Additionally, he has three stage victories at the Vuelta a España. Cavendish triumphed in Milan-San Remo in 2009, earning himself his only Monument win. Furthermore, he had an impressive track career with three world titles and an Olympic silver medal in the team pursuit.

The 2023 season has been filled with ups and downs for Cavendish, including the blow-up of the French B&B Hotels–KTM team in late 2022, which left him and numerous riders scrambling for a new team. Eventually, he found a spot with Astana Qazaqstan.