“I was a bit lucky. I was never the one first in the queue for a contract” - Expert leadout man Michael Morkov recalls career origins

One the most highly-regarded leadout man in recent memory, Michael Morkov has helped ensure the likes of Mark Cavendish and Fabio Jakobsen be in prime positions for many Grand Tour stage wins over the years.

Speaking to Velo recently as part of their 'Origin Stories' series, the Dane recalled the early days of his cycling career and the challenges he faced whilst making a name for himself. “My dad, he was a decent cycling fan. My granddad and him, they used to go to the Six Days of Copenhagen every year,” Morkov tells Velo. “He and my grandfather were TV repairmen. Back in those days, my grandfather represented Phillips, and he drove around repairing Philips TVs. One day a customer handed over two tickets to the Six Days of Copenhagen. He went there and he was amazed. That’s how my family got interested in cycling."

Despite the immediate love of the Morkov family and cycling, it wasn't easy for the Dane to persuade his father to allow him to ride a bike himself. “I had to beg for that first bike,” he remembers. “I said to my father I’d like to start cycling. My father was never a guy who jumped on the first comment. I had to tell him many times I’d like to cycling, he eventually said he would buy me a bike but he made me to promise that I would keep doing it. I feel like I have kept that promise.”

The first big break for Morkov came with a move to World Tour level in 2009 at Saxo Bank. “I was a bit lucky. I was never the one first in the cue for a contract,” Morkov recalls modestly. "There were other more talented riders than me, but in this moment I was doing the Six Days with Alex Rasmussen. He was a great talent."

Morkov's fellow Dane, Bjarne Riis was in charge of Saxo Bank at the time and clearly saw potential in Morkov and Rasmussen. “Bjarne signed him for 2009, and at the same time, we were the famous team No. 7 in the Six Days of Copenhagen, and a sponsor sold the idea that Bjarne should sign the two of us. I got in a bit as a wingman to this super team.”

From there, there was no looking back. Now aged 38, Morkov remains a central figure in a World Tour team with a move to the Astana Qazaqstan Team reuniting him with old ally Mark Cavendish for one last hurrah in 2024.