"It's so hard. I am actually in a bit of shock" - Mark Cavendish reacts to route reveal of 2024 Tour de France after postponing retirement for one last attempt at record-breaking 35th stage win

Arguably the greatest sprinter of all time, Mark Cavendish has postponed his retirement for one final crack at taking sole ownership of the Tour de France stage win record with his 35th victory. Having seen the route and profile being revealed though, is he having second thoughts?

"It's so hard. I am actually in a bit of shock," the 'Manx Missile' told reporters including including Het Nieuwsblad and GCN following the 2024 Tour de France race presentation and the unveiling of the route and profiles of the race. "It might be the hardest route I've ever seen at the Tour de France."

According to the race organisers ASO, there are a total of eight 'flat' stages that Cavendish and the rest of the sprinters may fancy their chances with four hilly stages, seven mountain stages and two individual time-trials across the three weeks. "There's a few, but you've got to get to them, that's the problem," Cavendish said of the sprint opportunities. "I think Turin should offer the chance for sprinters. This is perhaps the toughest course I have ever seen during a Tour de France."

"The start in Italy is super nice. It is only a few kilometres away, so I know the first kilometres really well, but it makes no difference because it starts hard, finishes hard and is all hard," Cavendish continues. "It will be beautiful in Italy, the Giro is always an incredible race and I know the Tuscan people just love cycling. It is really quite special."

Having crashed out of the Tour de France earlier this summer, Cavendish's hopes of ever taking that illusive 35th stage win looked to have gone. But having taken some time to gather his thoughts and think it over, Cavendish will return in 2024.

"It's kind of still in the process, we know roughly what we are doing next year," he says, referencing Astana Qazaqstan Team's continued work to improve the sprint leadout, ready to Cavendish at the Tour de France. "It's a good group, I've seen a lot of the new guys."