British cycling icon Mark Cavendish has announced his retirement from professional cycling, declaring that his final race will be Sunday’s Tour de France Singapore Criterium.
The 39-year-old, who holds the record for the most stage wins in the Tour de France, shared his decision in an emotional Instagram post on Saturday.
“Sunday will be the final race of my professional cycling career,” Cavendish wrote. “Cycling has given me so much, and I love the sport. I’ve always wanted to make a difference in it, and now I am ready to see what the next chapter has in store for me.”
Cavendish made history last July when he surpassed Eddy Merckx’s long-standing record, achieving a remarkable 35 stage wins on the Tour de France. Reflecting on his 20-year career, he added, “I am lucky enough to have done what I love for almost 20 years and I can now say that I have achieved everything that I can on the bike.”
Cavendish’s illustrious career includes winning the world road race title in 2011 and an omnium silver medal at the 2016 Olympics. Over his two decades in the sport, he secured 165 victories, including 17 stages in the Giro d’Italia and three in the Vuelta a España.
