“We’ll see” – Mark Cavendish leaves the door open to taking part in the 2025 Tour de France
Mark Cavendish has hinted his professional career may not be over yet, leaving the door open to a possible return to the Tour de France in 2025.
The 39-year-old Manxman claimed a record-breaking 35th stage win at this year’s Tour de France but hinted he would never ride the Tour again.
Tour de France organizer ASO announced that the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium on November 10 would be Cavendish’s final race, but the Manxman appeared to hint that he would not be present at the presentation of the 2025 Tour de France route on Tuesday in Paris I thought about it again. It could also be a ploy agreed with the ASO to attract attention before he confirms his resignation in Singapore.
“Like anyone who has ridden the Tour de France or the Tour de France Femmes, you finish it and think, ‘I’ll never do that again,’ and a few days later you miss it and crave the thrill.” after that,” Cavendish said on stage at the presentation.
When asked what it would look like to celebrate his 40th birthday next July and aim for his 36th stage win, Cavendish refused to confirm his racing career – and therefore his participation in the Tour de France – as over.
“Yeah, we’ll see…” he said with a smile.
Cavendish has not raced since completing the 2024 Tour de France in July and has only competed in a few post-Tour criteriums.
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The Tour de France Criteria in Saitama, Japan and then Singapore could be his final day and provide a fitting Tour de France-style farewell. But Cavendish still loves racing and might therefore decide to keep riding, just as he did after his crash in the 2023 Tour de France.
Cavendish is expected to take on a role in the Astana Qazaqstan team, which has secured new funding from Chinese carbon fiber manufacturer XDS Carbon-Tech, which has become the team’s majority shareholder and sponsor. Team manager Alexander Vinokourov has signed 12 riders for 2025 as the team looks to accumulate enough ranking points to remain in the WorldTour or at least secure automatic invitations to the Grand Tours and WorldTour one-day races.
From now on he enjoys spending time with his family, without the constant demands of life as a professional rider.
“Life was great. I rode my bike and spent time with my children. I just stopped screaming during races,” he said at the Tour de France route presentation.
“I was traveling and had a lot to do. I just returned from vacation with my children. It was the first time I was able to really enjoy a holiday, which is very, very nice.”
Cavendish and other notable riders are expected to travel from Paris to Saitama. Cycling News Australian editor Simone Giuliani will join the Criteria to provide news and feature interviews from the final events of the 2024 season.
