"I’m not talking about the future" - Mystery over Mark Cavendish's continuation in pro cycling continues...

Mark Cavendish is a legend in pro cycling, and now factually a legend of pro cycling after winning a record-breaking 35th stage at the Tour de France this year. At the Saitama Criterium in which he participated this weekend, the 'Manx Missile' has once again been asked about his future and the truth is there is no public decision yet, both possibilities are still fully on the table.

But of course, with the event being heavily connected to the Tour de France and this being the race that has marked the Astana Qazaqstan Team's rider, there was no escaping questions about the sport's greatest spectacle.

“It's not even a bike race, it's the Tour de France. Like, I don't understand why it's not like that for every bike rider. I don't understand it. If you’ve won one stage of the Tour it changes your life," Cavendish told Cyclingnews at the Saitama Criterium. “...It's always been hard for me to get motivated for anything except the Tour". 

The Manxman ended his season after his Tour success, which in reality only included one sprint where he was in contention for the win, but he struck gold there. “I was away from home for the last year when I was preparing for the Tour de France, so I was very fortunate my team, Astana Qazaqstan, gave me some rest and relax time after the Tour. I was able to go on holiday with my family," he shares. 

That may have been the last race of his pro career. "I was still riding obviously. I ride my bike, have always ridden my bike, always will ride my bike. But it's been a nice year spending time as a family with the kids doing stuff.”

At the time being he does not have a contract for next year, additionally his role as a team or brand ambassador is virtually assured if he decided to hang up the wheels for sure. But it's been very clear that he hasn't made a decision yet and the American news outlet asked him directly in Japan about what he'll do next season. His answer adds to the mystery: “I’m not talking about the future, if that’s ok”.