“I’ve just got a feeling he’ll come back" - Chris Hoy sees Cavendish returning for 2024

Mark Cavendish... Will he or won't he return to the peloton in 2024? It's been a topic of debate for many cycling fans ever since he crashed out of the Tour de France with a broken collarbone. Olympic hero and track cycling legend, Chris Hoy is expecting Cavendish to postpone his retirement.

“At the start of the season, I said it was definitely his last year,” said six-time Olympic champion in quotes collected by The Independent. “But having seen how much Cav enjoyed and relished the Tour de France, it wasn’t like he was there with a burden of winning another stage. He had a smile on his face from ear to ear, on every stage. He was relishing the challenge and feeling like he was getting back to something like his best.”

Read also

"I don't think anybody can say they wouldn't go back and change bits and pieces" - Mark Cavendish reflects on career regrets

Cavendish came close to a historic 35th Tour de France stage win, but ultimately was unable to take the outright record thanks to his crash. “I wouldn’t put it past Cav,” said Hoy on a possible return for the 'Manx Missile'. “I’ve just got a feeling he’ll come back. I don’t know anything, I haven’t been told anything, but I would love to see him have one more year."

“I think as long as the passion is still there and he’s injury-free, there’s no reason why he can’t be there," Hoy concludes. “He might not be the fastest in the world any more but he has the ability to win stages because of his experience. No one knows more about positioning in the bunch and lining himself up than him. I’d put money on him winning a stage if he does come back.”

Read also

Tom Boonen and Jan Bakelants criticize Belgian Worlds selection: "I would have never taken Jasper and Wout to a World Championships together"