Mark Cavendish: Cycling legend wins Singapore Criterium in final race to end career in style - 'I'm so emotional'
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Updated 10/11/2024 at 17:58 GMT
Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory in the final race of his career at the Singapore Criterium. The Brit, who announced the race would be his last, brought the curtiain down on his illustrious career with another victory. Cavendish's career has seen him claim a record 35 Tour de France stage wins and his swansong win in Singapore was the 166th of a 19-year professional career.
‘Emotional moment’ – Cavendish crowns ‘incredible career’ with win in last race
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mark Cavendish signed off his career in style with victory on Sunday morning at the Singapore Criterium.
Racing for the final time in his career, the sport's most successful sprinter of all time typically proved fastest in a sprint finish.
Speaking to Eurosport after crossing the line, Cavendish made no attempt to hide his feelings.
He said: "I’m quite emotional actually. I realised in the last 5 laps it was the last 15km of my career."
The conditions were tough, with 29 degree temperatures and 77% humidity. Cavendish admitted that he was somewhat out of his element.
He said: "The heat here is not nice for me. I didn’t race since the Tour de France so I’m missing that sharpness. It’s always going to be difficult but you see the amazing job my team, Astana Kazakhstan, did leading me out controlling the race. I had to go, I had to let Jasper and Biniam [Philipsen] in the last lap. I was nervous about crashing into someone."
Not one to mask his emotions, Cavendish admitted he had been desperate to sign off with a victory.
He said: "I could feel the lead coming. I really wanted that so bad and I’m so proud to win the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium as my last professional race. I love this sport. I’ll always love this sport. Especially the Tour de France. The Tour de France is not just a bike race, it’s the biggest annual sporting event in the world. It’s what children dream of, it’s what adults dream of, it’s what you pretend to do when you’re out training."
The retiring legend went on, speaking from his heart about the sport that has given him so much.
He said: "Cycling is such a form of freedom, a way to meet people a way to be alone with your thoughts. It has so much potential as a sport, mode of transport as a pastime, I truly believe this and I’ve always tried to do anything I can to help this move forward. That won’t stop, even if I’m not riding a bike anymore.
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"I’m looking forward to what the rest of my career holds, just not on a bike. I couldn’t have wished for a better send-off here in Singapore, what an incredible crowd, what an incredible race, what an incredible group of athletes to finish my career with. To have my wife and friends here also is brilliant. I’m so emotional, I’m so grateful and I hope everyone enjoyed it."
Cavendish had initially signaled his intention to retire last year, but delayed bringing down the curtain after a crash in the Tour de France.
Instead of ending his time in the saddle with a disappointment, he opted to chase a more suitable exit.
After breaking the all-time record for stage wins at the Tour de France this year and being knighted by the Prince of Wales last month, Cavendish announced on Saturday that Singapore would be his final race.
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‘It’s quite emotional’ – Cavendish receives guard of honour ahead of final race
Video credit: TNT Sports
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