Seventeen years after his first one, Mark Cavendish has ridden and accomplished his final ever Tour de France, with 35 stage wins in his again pocket and the 2024 version’s lanterne rouge – the final rider on the final classification.
The Briton was the second man to journey the 33.7km mountainous time trial from Monaco to Good, and he instructed reporters after that it was “seemingly” his final ever skilled bike race, although he later sidestepped an analogous query.
A yr on from delaying retirement to safe win quantity 35, a victory obtained within the race’s first week that moved him one forward of Eddy Merckx within the all-time checklist of stage wins, Cavendish described himself as “extremely joyful” with how his fifteenth Tour unfolded.
“I feel there are 11 groups [10 – ed] left on the Tour de France with out a win, and we acquired the win, the win we needed which is vital,” he mentioned after ending 1:28 slower than his Astana-Qazaqstan teammate Davide Ballerini within the time trial, dropping him to the underside of the race’s GC.
“Like all the things, you reside a rollercoaster on the Tour de France, however we bond collectively as a gaggle, and also you benefit from the successes and arduous occasions collectively. I’m so fortunate to have a gaggle round me right here that we may get by and obtain the success we needed.”
Cavendish, as ever, has struggled by the race’s mountain phases, however he persevered in order that he may have his victory lap in Good which ended with a salute as he pressed pause, presumably ceaselessly, on his extraordinary biking profession.
“I feel I acquired many of the feelings out the best way yesterday so I may type of take pleasure in right now,” he mirrored. “I couldn’t go simple, however I knew if I acquired to the highest of the climb by a sure level, I’d be alright for the time restrict, so I did that and will then simply actually take pleasure in it. I loved counting down the kilometres, seeing the flamme rouge for the ultimate time, and seeing my household as I crossed the road. It was very, very good.”
If this was to be the 39-year-old’s swansong, he departs as probably the most profitable sprinter within the sport’s historical past with 165 wins. “I’ve been very, very fortunate to have the profession I’ve had, to work with individuals I’ve had, to satisfy the individuals I’ve, and to have been capable of dwell a dream, everybody’s dream,” he mentioned.
“You see the successes, the photographs and movies of wins, however it’s very uncommon that individuals see all the things that goes on behind, all the things that makes that. It [cycling] has taught me rather a lot about myself, the right way to be a father, and that’s the largest factor I’ll take from the game.”
