Mark Cavendish planning to race again this year but rules out return to Tour de France after receiving knighthood
Published 03/10/2024 at 15:43 GMT+1
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Mark Cavendish was at Windsor Castle this week to receive his knighthood. The 39-year-old won his 35th stage at the Tour de France earlier this year to break Eddy Merckx’s record. Cavendish spoke about his future in cycling and whether he plans to race again this year. He is under contract with Astana-Qazaqstan Team until the end of the 2024 season.
Watch every single one of Cavendish's 35 Tour de France wins
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Mark Cavendish says he still intends to race again this season but has reaffirmed that he will not be competing at another Tour de France.
Cavendish, 39, received his knighthood this week at Windsor Castle.
In the summer he won his 35th stage at the Tour de France to break Eddy Merckx’s record.
He has not raced competitively since, but is expected to compete in November at the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium, where he could bring the curtain down on his career.
"I've still got races this year. I'm still training for them, it will be really nice to race as a Knight Commander,” he said this week.
Cavendish said at the Tour de France that he would “likely” retire from cycling after completing the last stage.
He has postponed retirement before, making a U-turn to race the Tour de France again this year, but will not be going back to the Grand Tour again.
"I've already said I won't do another Tour de France," Cavendish said.
"That's public knowledge, I won't do another Tour de France."
Cavendish was awarded the knighthood in the King’s birthday honours.
His stage win at the Tour de France was the 165th victory of his esteemed career.
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On receiving his knighthood, Cavendish said: "I was really nervous. His Royal Highness was superb. I didn't honestly know I'd be nervous, but I'm so incredibly proud of representing the country.
"I am very fortunate to have got to do what I love for so many years, and to see other people inspired by that and riding bikes themselves.
"It's wonderful. You know, I'm just a lad from the Isle of Man, to be a Knight Commander, that's not something I could ever have dreamed of."
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