Mark Cavendish is clear: "I won't do another Tour de France"
CyclingThursday, 03 October 2024 at 16:26
Mark Cavendish officially became a knight this week, simultaneous to the report of the possibility of him continuing his career as a pro rider in 2025. It remains possible, but very unlikely, as he admits that he will not return to the Tour de France after finally breaking the stage win record.
"I am very fortunate to have got to do what I love for so many years and to see other people inspired by that and riding bikes themselves," Cavendish told the BBC. "It's wonderful. You know, I'm just a lad from the Isle of Man, to be a Knight Commander, that's not something I could ever have dreamed of."
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The Manxman focused his whole season around the Tour de France, and although most of the season was very difficult for the Astana Qazaqstan Team he did arrive at the Tour and conquered a stage within the first week of the race. He then didn't manage to contest for any other and didn't race since the Tour ended. It has been assumed that he wouldn't race anymore and perhaps the Tour was the last race of his career.
But actually, although unknown and with only two weeks left of the season, Cavendish says that he is still planning to race. "I've still got races this year. I'm still training for them, it will be really nice to race as a Knight Commander".
The main questions though revolve around what he will be doing in 2025. Most likely, a role as an ambassador for a bike brand or for the Kazakh team that gave him an opportunity to fulfill his goal of 35 wins. But he will not try to go for a 36th. "I've already said I won't do another Tour de France. That's public knowledge, I won't do another Tour de France," he concluded.
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- No, I'm referring to the second rider, who both Jonas and the amateur following him had sped past, and who then asked Jonas if he could help when he got to the bottom and saw Jonas had crashed; Jonas told him angrily to go away. This rider was very understanding and sympathised with Jonas.Hills3328-01-2026
- Do you know anything about pro cyclists’ working methods? Have you never noticed that almost ALL pro training crashes happen when they’re not with their team? How do you expect riders to ride together or with their teams almost the whole year when each has their home and family somewhere totally different. It’s even pretty likely that some have contract clauses forbidding them to do group rides with friends or non-pros without authorisation, already just for insurance purposes. Another reason many pros may be reluctant about letting any old anonymous amateur tag along. How can you trust his experience or skills in case of an emergency move or braking, especially when he’s got one hand reserved for his picture-taking?Mistermaumau28-01-2026
- “He was going down fast just to get rid of me” That kind of sounds like he didn’t appreciate the guy much before he maybe offered to help. So, angry, yes I get it. You expect him to say thanks to a guy without whom he’d have had a nice relaxing productive ride without the (future) stress of having another crash experience. Heck, I see people already getting nervous at the office when they feel someone behind their back is watching their screen and there’s ZERO danger.Mistermaumau28-01-2026
- Sorry, but your comment just leaves so much to answer. And so according to you, it’s perfectly normal someone curious or looking for some adventure would start chasing an ambulance or fire engine too (not even necessarily up close)?Mistermaumau28-01-2026
- To add another layer for those who have problems deciding what is normal or not. Imagine it had not been Jonas but one of the nicer ladies (pick your favourite) or just your good-looking* wife or daughter and some anonymous guy starts riding up real close taking out his phone without asking or revealing anything about himself so who’s to know if he’s not a paparazzi, stalker, or fan of a rival rider (we’ve seen what WVA “fans” are capable of wrt e.g. MVDP). As regards the road being public, you conveniently forgot that nobody is supposed to ride close to anyone else at any speed and in any case, ANYWHERE there isn’t a crowd and you insist on getting very close to some other person is invading someone’s right to some private space. Would you go plonk yourself right next to another person on an empty beach? Please, a bit of common sense and savoir-vivre when applying theoretical rules.Mistermaumau28-01-2026
- All easy to say but did you think at all about how it would be if every amateur car driver would start chasing every celebrity in a car? Will they all have to end up like Diana before people realise a public road does not mean any old behaviour? There are already good reasons why pros have certain privileges on public roads (in more advanced cycling nations) and why they are generally accompanied during group rides. It’s not dissimilar to certain rules being extended for film crews or the transport of protected persons (whether dangerous criminals or royalty and leaders).Mistermaumau28-01-2026
- Go for it, before wada updates is prohibited substance / methods.
Front24228-01-2026 - It's actually normal. Most pro riders train alone. This is because each rider has their own training programme so it's difficult to be riding together e.g. if one is doing a Zone 2 ride and another is doing intervals.Pogboom28-01-2026
- Why not leave people alone ? famous people incl.
ChillingCyclist28-01-2026 - But he took his anger out on an amateur rider who simply offered his help. That rider said that he understood Jonas's anger, but that says a lot about how kind and humble the rider is.Hills3328-01-2026
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Sir Mark Cavendish, please.
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