The British professional racing cyclist, Mark Cavendish, born May 21st 1985 on the Isle of Man, has excelled both as a track racer and as a road racer. He has accomplished remarkable feats in both disciplines. Cavendish is known for his powerful sprinting ability and his ability to time his sprints perfectly. He is also a very intelligent racer, and is able to read the race well and position himself perfectly for the sprint.
In 2005 Cavendish began his professional career and had a remarkable first season, securing eleven victories. He holds an impressive record of 34 stage wins in the Tour de France, thus sharing the top spot on the all-time list with Eddy Merckx. Additionally, Cavendish has accumulated a notable total of fifty-three stage victories in various Grand Tours, placing him third overall. Notably, he claimed victory in the Men’s road race at the 2011 road world championships, becoming only the second male British cyclist to achieve this feat, following in the footsteps of Tom Simpson. Furthermore, Cavendish has showcased his prowess by winning the points classification in all three prestigious Grand Tours: the 2010 Vuelta a España, the 2011 and 2021 Tours de France, and the 2013 Giro d’Italia.
In the summer of 2023 Cavendish announced he was retiring, however in short of a week later he won the the 21st stage of the Giro d’Italia. Later in the season he had to drop out of the Tour de France, in the 8th stage as a result of a fall.
What will the next stage be for Cavendish? We will eagerly await and see.
