Mark Cavendish took the sprint at his last race, the Tour de France Criterium Singapore ( ).
He had a 'guard of honour' from all the other riders as he took the start.
What an epic career he's had. As far as sprint finishes go he is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time).
Cycling is in his blood so I'm sure he'll stay involved with the sport somehow

Video here, wonderful to see.


He seems to be genuinely liked and respected by the peloton. I'm slightly gutted this was on - I'm literally sat on a plane to Singapore right now, I'd have gone a couple of days earlier to watch!

Sir Mark Cavendish KBE.

He has had a long career for a sprinter, 17 years, even paying for a place  on a team when no one wanted to sign him and still carried on winning.

Best race? Winning the World Championships in 2011?

Easiest win? The Singapore race, which had similarities to a wrestling match. https://road.cc/content/news/cycling-live-blog-14-november-2024-311237#live-blog-item-62561

Dave

Not just road. I'll never forget Sirs Cavendish and Wiggins winning the Madison at the 2016 UCI track cycling championships. Just awesome, and gives me goosebumps each time I watch it.

I guess he will return to producing his kits now?

 


I'll get my coat!

GE

Or growing bananas. Here's a bunch of them for scale:

Quote from: Trainfish on November 15, 2024, 12:24:46 AMOr growing bananas. Here's a bunch of them for scale:

So, that's what he keeps down his cycling shorts?     

Can't say I've ever wondered, you on the other hand...................

A 'hand' of bananas, see what I did there? I had better go and find my coat I suppose 

Quote from: Trainfish on November 15, 2024, 09:45:15 PMCan't say I've ever wondered, you on the other hand...................

A 'hand' of bananas, see what I did there? I had better go and find my coat I suppose 

AH! I see, I really meant only one not a whole bunch! Generally you don't have to wonder, it's fairly obvious as with athletes.....  So I am told.

GE

Great to see Cav getting a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' tonight

A really top rider, deserves everything he has won. There's no-one quite like him coming through

Dave

Not even close. The ITV punditry team observed that his first TdF stage win was outsprinting Erik Zabel, Cavendish's career was so long he outlasted Rick Zabel, Erik's son!

Quote from: njee20 on December 18, 2024, 08:59:41 AMNot even close. The ITV punditry team observed that his first TdF stage win was outsprinting Erik Zabel, Cavendish's career was so long he outlasted Rick Zabel, Erik's son!

Didn't Erik's son go into the mobile phone manufacturing business when he retired?

Quote from: Trainfish on December 18, 2024, 11:06:45 AM

Quote from: njee20 on December 18, 2024, 08:59:41 AMNot even close. The ITV punditry team observed that his first TdF stage win was outsprinting Erik Zabel, Cavendish's career was so long he outlasted Rick Zabel, Erik's son!

Didn't Erik's son go into the mobile phone manufacturing business when he retired?