After almost hanging up his cycling boots last year, 38-year-old Mark Cavendish decided to postpone his long thought retirement. In a bid to break the long-standing record of 34 stage wins at Tour de France, Cavendish is all set to grace the track for one final dance. And it is this very pursuit that led him to making a debut in the Tour Columbia, a racing track he has almost no inclination towards. Such is the prowess of the man that he managed to finish third, and yet, expressed disappointment.

Mark Cavendish starts final year with a podium finish

After picking up an injury in the process of chasing that record 35th win in the previous tour de France, Mark finished the race at an impressive third position at the Tour Columbia, but missed out on the golden opportunity to claim victory in his debut appearance. “Well, the result could have been worse, but it could have been better. This is my best debut race for a few years and the strength of our team was evident, so we can take so many positives from the race and know that we are working towards winning,” said the passionate 38-year-old.

The Astana Qazaqstan team arrived in Columbia slightly earlier than before, in order to acclimatize the riders with the conditions and regulate their bodies. Judging from his action, the British cyclist wasn’t going to leave any stone unturned in order to achieve his goal. The team had enrolled for an altitude camp, where Mark said he faced difficulty in breathing.

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Training in the hills of Medellin made him realize why is Columbian counterparts perform so well in other parts of the world.

For someone who had little to no experience of racing on tracks with a steep climb, Mark Cavendish surprised everyone with his performance. Their team, Astana Qazaqstan, dominated the race almost entirely but faltered right at the end. With just one final kilometre left in the race, they ran out of gas, that allowed other riders close in to take advantage.

So not having attained the desired result, Mark’s hunt for the elusive stage win number 35 continues.

Mark’s chase for unattained glory

Mark extended his professional career by another year to etch his name in the history of Tour de France. He currently shares the record for most stage wins with cycling legend Eddy Merckx. For him, the Tour de France will always remain the pinnacle of racing. To sit on the top, comfortable and alone is a dream that keeps the fire in his belly burning.

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He says that as a sprinter, you are only marked on your wins and nothing else. His record stands at 162 victories and judging by how he started, the tally will considerably rise. For him, coming second, third or fourth is of no importance, because at the end, it is the win that counts.

With his coach Vasilis Anastopoulos joining the team in the winter, his dream of 35 stage wins does not seem impossible. Vasilis was the same man that guided Mark Cavendish to four stage wins during the 2021 Tour de France. It was the race that revived the greatness of Mark, and once again established his name as the greatest road sprinter.

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