photo credits @ WTFK
Mark Cavendish ended his nearly two-decade-long career with a bang, sprinting to victory at the Tour de France Singapore Criterium today.
Cavendish bowed out in style, winning the exhibition event ahead of Biniam Girmay and Jasper Philipsen in a bunch sprint finish after 57.5 kilometers in the saddle.
The day belonged to the Manx Missile, who was vindicated by delaying his retirement after claiming his 35th stage win in the Tour de France to break the record he jointly held with Eddy Merckx. On Sunday, Cavendish wore race number 35 in recognition of his greatest achievement
The Team GB Olympic silver medallist boasts 165 race victories, including the 2011 road world title, 17 stage victories in the Giro d’Italia, and three in the Vuelta a Espana.
“I’m quite emotional,” Cavendish said after the race on Sunday. “I realized in the last five laps it was the last 15km of my career. “I was nervous about crashing or something if I fight [for the lead]. I really wanted that so bad. I’ve always loved this sport.”
Cavendish confirmed the day before the race that he had “completed” his racing career, aiming to end speculation that he would consider a final hurrah in 2025.
“Sunday will be the final race of my professional cycling career. 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 wrote on Instagram. “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.”
Coming out of the last bend, Cavendish, who holds the record for most stage wins on the Tour de France, briefly latched onto the wheel of defending champion Jasper Philipsen before pulling away.
Cavendish had time to glance back before raising his arms in triumph one last time, to deafening cheers from the crowd who had gathered for the race. Philipsen took second place with his Belgian compatriot Arnaud De Lie finishing third.
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