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Mark Cavendish delays his retirement and stays with Astana Qazaqstan Team

One of the greatest sprinters in the history of cycling Mark Cavendish has decided to postpone the end of his professional career for another year

Mark Cavendish delays his retirement and stays with Astana Qazaqstan Team

At the same time, Mark Cavendish and Astana Qazaqstan Team agreed on making a new deal for the next cycling season. As a result, the Isle of Man rider will continue to compete in the Kazakh team throughout the season of 2024.

Cavendish, who announced his retirement in May, is tied with Belgian great Eddy Merckx with 34 stage wins.

Now 38, Cavendish had equaled Merckx's record during the 2021 Tour, 13 years after his first success. His attempt to break the record in this year's Tour de France was brought to an end when he crashed out of the race and broke his collarbone.

Mark crashed out of the 2023 Tour de France and broke his collarbone

Mark Cavendish “Well, this year I announced my retirement, and I was looking forward to not having to get up and train every day and not to be away from home for such a long time, instead spending time with my family. I love cycling, I love racing, however, I was happy with that decision. But… Obviously, crashing out of the Tour de France was not a finish of my career I hoped for. But it is what it is. Together with Astana Qazaqstan, we grew incredibly as a team this year and it felt like a real family."

"So, the first thing Alexandr Vinokurov said to me there at the Tour de France after my crash was “why not do another year?. Well, my first reaction was “no, no…”. I was not ready to change my decision, I was at peace with it…"

"Then, I discussed it with my family, my kids and I got their answer: “you should carry on, well, just one more year…”. So, now I believe I am ready for another year as a professional rider, and I am happy I can do it and finish it with Astana Qazaqstan Team. I love this team and even beyond the next year I’d like to do something more for this project. However, this is a question of the future”

Merckx amassed his wins in the 1960s and '70s, an era during which his domination was such that he earned the nickname "The Cannibal." Unlike Merckx, who won a record five Tours, Cavendish, who specializes in the sprints, has never won overall.

Cavendish has completed 206 stages, winning 16.5% of them, according to statistics provided by Tour de France organizers. His speed, prowess and longevity among his fellow sprinters have no equal at the Tour.

He won the Tour de France best sprinter's green jersey twice. He has won stages at all three Grand Tours -- the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Spanish Vuelta -- and became a world champion in 2011.