"From one day to the next he didn't answer my telephone" - Max Richeze to retire following fall-out with Mark Cavendish

The career of Argentinian sprinter Max Richeze is set to come to an end after the Vuelta a San Juan following the 39-year-old's disappointment at being ghosted by Mark Cavendish when a reunion had looked likely.

"We should have raced together at B&B, then the project foundered. I kept talking to Mark, he told me he wanted to take me with him, we also talked about the Astana issue and from one day to the next he didn't answer my telephone," Richeze reveals in an interview with Tutto Bicci Web.

"He is a great champion but from a human point of view he disappointed me. Yet it wasn't difficult to tell me that he couldn't take me with him, a phone call or a message was enough, I would have understood. Racing with him, thinking of tackling the Tour de France together to try and hit an historic record gave me great motivation."

As a 39-year-old free agent following the end of his deal with UAE Team Emirates, Richeze could see the writing on the wall. As such he will be riding his final race in front of his fellow Argentine supporters at the Vuelta a San Juan.

"I have had many beautiful moments," he says. "Among my victories, I remember two well. The one in Switzerland in front of Sagan in the rainbow jersey and then when I won here in Argentina, in front of my family and my people. I am very satisfied with my career, I have had my opportunities, I have always had an excellent relationship with my leaders and their victories have always felt like mine too."