- Mark Cavendish wins the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium
- The 39-year-old driver announced on Saturday that it would be his last race after 19 years.
British cycling legend Sir Mark Cavendish took victory in his last race.
The 39-year-old produced a trademark finishing sprint to cross the line first at the Tour de France’s Criterium Prudential Singapore.
He announced Saturday that it would be his last race after an illustrious 19-year career in the sport.
Cavendish’s fellow competitors gave him a guard of honor before the race and the Manx man was understandably emotional at the end.
Speaking to Eurosport through tears, he said: ‘I realized in the last five laps that it was the last 15 kilometers of my race. I passed the red blaze (indicating one kilometer to go) for the last time in my race and I felt it.
Sir Mark Cavendish takes victory in the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium
The 39-year-old driver announced on Saturday that it would be his last race after a 19-year career.
“I haven’t raced since the Tour de France so I missed that sharpness and, when the guys are here with the leading teams, it was always going to be difficult, but you see the incredible job my team, Astana Kazakhstan, did, it got me out, I had I have to go
“I had to let Jasper (Philipsen) and Biniam (Girmay) in on the last lap, I was nervous about crashing or something if I fought. I really wanted to finish at least my last race.
‘I could feel the lead coming, and as I passed Jasper I could feel him pick up speed, but I really wanted it so badly. “I am very proud to win the Prudential Criterium of the Tour de France as my last professional race.”
Cavendish has won a string of medals and earlier this year broke the Tour de France stage victory record with 35, surpassing Eddy Merckx’s total.
He won his first Tour de France stage in 2008 and faced setbacks, such as when he was diagnosed with the Epstein-Barr virus in 2018.
Cavendish, winner of a record 35 Tour de France stages, was awarded a knighthood earlier this year.
Cavendish’s teammates gave him a guard of honor before the race in Singapore.
In 2016, the Isle of Man cyclist won a silver medal for Team GB at the Rio Olympics.
It remains to be seen what retirement holds for him, although it appears Cavendish does not plan to step away from cycling for long.
“I love this sport, I’ve always loved this sport, especially the Tour de France,” he said.
‘The Tour de France is not just a cycling race, it is the largest annual sporting event in the world. It’s what children dream of, it’s what adults dream of, it’s what you aim to do when you’re training.
‘Cycling is a great form of freedom, it is a way to meet people, it is a way to be alone with your thoughts, it is a way to be whoever you want to be.
“It has a lot of potential as a sport, as a means of transportation, as a hobby, and I really believe that and have always believed that and try to do everything I can to help move this forward.”
An excited Cavendish said he doesn’t plan to stay away from cycling for long.
“This won’t stop, even if I don’t ride a bike anymore.” In fact, you might be able to put more into it now. I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of my career has in store for me, but not on the bike.
“I couldn’t have wished for a better farewell than here. Having my wife and friends here is great. “I’m very excited, I’m very grateful and I hope everyone enjoyed it.”
