Mark Cavendish has long announced that he wants to end his career after the season. Team Astana wants to change the mind of the top sprinter after his fall at the Tour de France.
“Yes, we want Mark to go ahead in 2024 and be able to compete in his 15th Tour de France to win his 35th stage“, said team boss Alexander Vinokurov of the French sports newspaper “L’Equipe”. Cavendish suffered a broken collarbone in a fall on the eighth stage on Saturday (08.07.2023) and had to give up the race.
Vinokurov wants to be a role model
This also burst his dream of a record stage win, which would have left the legend Eddy Merckx behind for good. Both lead the list with 34 successes each. At the end of the season, the 38-year-old former world champion Cavendish actually wants to end his career.
“I broke my femur on tour in 2011, it was supposed to be my last year. But I didn’t want to stop like that. I extended and fought to win the London Olympics the following year“added Vinokurov, who even won gold in the 2012 Olympic road race in front of Buckingham Palace. “Mark has the same spirit, the same will to achieve his ultimate goal. We are ready to give him that opportunity. But he will decide.“
“The best sprinter in Tour history”
Cavendish had shown old class on the tour this year. In Bordeaux, the Brit missed victory by a hair’s breadth on Friday when he was sprinted over by triple winner Jasper Philipsen after problems with the gearshift.
He also managed to win a stage at the Giro d’Italia this year. It was also his 162nd professional win, only Merckx has more successes (275). “He is the best sprinter in Tour history“said Christian Prudhomme, head of organization for the Tour of France, about Cavendish.