"I’ve been absolutely bowled over by the love and support of everyone" - Mark Cavendish speaks on Tour de France departure for the first time

Mark Cavendish's final crack at becoming the sole record holder at the Tour de France for most stage wins at the race was sadly brought to a premature end last week. Now, for the first time since he has spoken on the departure.

Speaking from his hospital bed and posted to his official Instagram account, Cavendish detailed his feelings and thanked fans for their support. "Yep, fractured right clavicle. Just out of surgery to plate it up," he writes. "It’ll take a bit longer than the standard couple of weeks for a collarbone, just due to the screws that were in there from a previous injury. But we’re still only looking at a number of weeks, so happy days!"

"I’ve been absolutely bowled over by the love and support of everyone. Fans, colleagues, family friends. Thank you all so so so much. It obviously hasn’t been the ideal way to finish the Tour de France, but that’s part of the beauty and brutality of cycling!" Cavendish continues. "But I’ve felt incredibly lifted thanks to all you beautiful souls living my journey with me."

"Missing my Astana Qazaqstan Team family, but been cheering them on every day, and will do so all the way into Paris," concludes the 'Manx Missile'. "Thank you to Professor Funk. I know my shoulder is always in the best hands with you. Right then, time for rehab! Let’s get on with it!"

Cavendish's Astana Qazaqstan Team boss, Alexander Vinokourov has recently expressed his intention to get the legendary sprinter to sign a one-year extension, prolonging his career and giving him another, final chance to take a historic 35th Tour de France stage win. 

Although Cavendish doesn't make reference to any future plans here, could the lure of making history potentially see him postpone his retirement?