British Cyclist Sir Mark Cavendish won his final race in professional cycling to end a brilliant career that will forever be remembered in the history of the sport.
Singapore’s Connaught Drive may have lost the cycling legacy of the Champs-Élysées, but it’s now a memorable spot for Cavendish as his career began here. The last It was a sprint.
The ‘Manx Missile’ raised his arms as he crossed the victory line for the last time, and bid farewell to the Tour de France Singapore Criterium with victory.
On a hot day filled with emotion, Cavendish received a guard of honor from his fellow cyclists as he made his way to the start line.
He said: ‘Today was the first time I felt genuinely emotional. It was so beautiful and unexpected.’
He announced his retirement on social media on Saturday, ending speculation about any final season.
“I was looking at the lap count and I knew it was the last 25 laps of my career, the last 15 laps, the last 10 laps, the last There were three laps, the last lap and then the last kilometre,’ said Cavendish, fighting back tears after the ceremony. ‘It was beautiful, I felt every moment of it.'”
The 49-year-old retired from professional cycling after winning the most stages in the sport’s biggest race. His victory in the fifth stage of the Tour de France this year took him to thirty-five Tour stage wins, one level ahead of the legendary Eddy Merckx.
He was also a two-time winner of the Green Jersey points competition at the Tour and won the flagship Champs-Élysées Sprint on four consecutive occasions.
Speaking to The Independent after the race in Singapore, four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome praised his British counterpart and former teammate.
He said: ‘His legacy will live on for a long time with what he has achieved in the game. To start at such a young age and be at the top of your game for the best part of two decades is extraordinary.’
Froome also believes that nobody will be able to match Cavendish’s achievements. “I think his record will stand,” he added. I don’t see anyone coming close to them in the next few decades.’
Although his incredible success would become Tour (de France) folklore, Cavendish also won a number of other titles.
He went on to achieve numerous victories in two other cycling Grand Tours, winning 17 stages at the Giro d’Italia and three at the Vuelta a España.
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In 2011 he took the title of World Road Race Champion – the first British winner of the event since 1965. He has won 166 professional races in a career spanning nearly 20 years.
Cavendish’s final race was 25 laps on the 2.3km circuit in downtown Singapore.
It was the city-state’s third time hosting a Tour de France criterium event, which came a week after a similar race in Japan. These end-of-season events are organized to promote the tour in Asia.
This year’s Tour de France green jersey winner Benjamin Guerme was also among the co-stars.
He took victory in the points classification, but was unable to overtake Cavendish over the line, as the Manxman showed great pace last time out.
‘It was really good. What a wonderful day to experience my last race with these riders, who are the next generation of sprinters,’ said Cavendish.
The latter part of Cavendish’s career has been plagued by injuries and illness and he came close to retiring from the game last year.
He was due to retire at the end of the season, however a crash in that summer’s Tour prompted him to return to France to try again for the stage victory record.
It was an impressive decision as he cruised to victory in Saint-Villabas, his first sprint win in 16 years at the Tour.
Cavendish’s decision to take a break from his career inevitably raised questions about his future, but the retired great was keen to focus on his immediate plans in Singapore.
“I’m going to dinner and I’m going to have a few drinks with my colleagues,” he told reporters.
This unique relationship with his teammates was at the forefront of Cavendish’s mind as he discussed what he would miss most as a professional cyclist.
‘Being in a team, being away from your teammates. I think it’s really important and it teaches you a lot in life to stick with a group, especially in a sport where one person crosses the line first but you work as a team. .’
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