| Date of Delivery | 21/05/1985 |
| Nationality | English |
| Born | Douglas, Isle of Man |
| Nickname | Cav / The Manx Missile |
| Peak | 1.75 metres |
| Weight | 70 kg |
| Resides | Essex |
| Accomplice | Peta Cavendish |
| Turned professional | 2005 |
| Crew | Astana Qazaqstan |
| Bike | Wilier Filante SLR |
| UCI wins | 165 |
| Stage race wins | 4 |
| Grand Tour stage wins | 55 |
| @MarkCavendish | |
| @MarkCavendish |
Mark Cavendish is likely one of the most profitable skilled cyclists of the fashionable period.
He holds the document for essentially the most Tour de France stage wins in historical past, a title he took from Eddy Merckx on stage 5 of the 2024 race, clocking up his thirty fifth victory in Saint Vulba.
The Manx Missile had supposed to retire on the finish of 2023, however having crashed out of the race that 12 months, returned for another season with Astana Qazaqstan, in pursuit of the document.
Listed below are 21 issues you might not have identified about Cav…
(Picture credit score: Alex Whitehead / SWPix)
1. Earlier than selecting up a street bike, Cavendish rode BMX occasions at house on the Isle of Man.
2. He joined his first biking membership on the age of 9 in Douglas.
3. Cavendish developed a repute from a younger age as being fiercely aggressive, and he did not like dropping. His early coach, Dot Tilbury, advised the BBC in 2012: “He did not like dropping. He began to win and infrequently he would lap the opposite riders within the discipline”.
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4. After leaving faculty, he labored in a financial institution for 2 years to aim to fund the start of a biking profession.
5. Whereas on the GB academy, Cavendish together with the remainder of the riders needed to reside on £58 every week.
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
6. The Manx-born rider’s first crew was referred to as Crew Sparkasse, a feeder crew for the German T-Cellular outfit.
7. His first Grand Tour stage wins got here in 2008, with 4 on the Tour de France and two within the Giro d’Italia.
8. In 2009, Cavendish received Milan-San Remo, his first and solely Monument victory to this point.
9. The Manxman grew to become street World Champion in Copenhagen in 2011, beating Australia’s Matthew Goss and André Greipel of Germany. He virtually received once more in 2016, however was denied by Peter Sagan.
10. Afterward that 12 months, Cavendish was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). He additionally received the BBC Sports activities Persona of the 12 months in 2011, the third bicycle owner to take action, after Chris Hoy and Tom Simpson.
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
11. He has printed three books: Boy Racer, At Pace, and Tour de Pressure, the ultimate one detailing his return to successful methods on the Tour de France in 2021
12. Between 2009 and 2012, Cavendish received every of the ultimate Tour de France phases in Paris on the Champs-Élysées, the unofficial sprinters world championships.
13. In the event you already knew the earlier truth, do you know that by successful in Paris in 2012, Cavendish grew to become the primary and solely rider to win on the Champs-Élysées carrying the hallowed rainbow jersey? You do now!
14. He has despair. Cavendish was identified in 2018. In an interview final 12 months, he stated: “Despair you simply affiliate with being unhappy – and it’s not unhappy. The quantity of instances I’ve tried to color an image. However you may’t, there’s no image to color. You both don’t have any emotions in any respect or the way you act or reply is totally irrational.”
15. On two separate events, the Manxman has been identified with the Epstein-Barr virus, in any other case often called glandular fever or mono, which saved him out of competitors.
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
16. In Autumn 2013, Cavendish married mannequin Peta Todd in London; he’s stepfather to her son from a earlier relationship, they usually have had 4 additional kids collectively.
17. In November 2021, the couple have been robbed at knifepoint in the midst of the evening at house in Essex. Three males have been jailed for his or her half within the armed theft.
18. On account of the incident, the Cavendish household have purchased guard canine to assist safe his house
19. The Manxman holds an Honorary Doctorate in Science from the College of Chester for his contributions to biking.
20. In 2024, aged 38, Cavendish grew to become essentially the most profitable male sprinter within the historical past of biking, with 164 wins.
21. In June 2024, he was awarded a knighthood. On the Tour, he would be the first ever knight to take part within the Grand Tour.
