Mark Cavendish on the struggles of mental health: "I went from being the best in the world to one of the worst overnight"

Mark Cavendish. has talked about how managing his mental health has given him strength to keep on his successful career, which has seen the Manxman start 2022 with a win at the Tour of Oman.

"I was somebody before who didn't really believe mental health problems were a thing. The irony that I suffered was such a good thing because it meant I could personally talk about the fact it is real. I went from being the best in the world to one of the worst overnight," he mentioned.

"I was misdiagnosed and mishandled by people I trusted in an old team and it pretty much wiped out everything physically I had worked for, and along with that came mental health problems..."

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"I know there's still a stigma about it. I know it's not taken seriously. If I didn't take it seriously I know a lot more people don't take it seriously. But I'm fortunate to have a platform to talk about it, to talk from personal experience and that has a lot more power. If you think you'll never get it, if you think, 'Oh, I'm strong', it's not about being strong or weak in the head. It's an illness. It's chemical. It's something you can't control," he added.

Cavendish is one of the most prominent sprinters in the history of cycling. Between his 157 wins as a professional cycling since 2005, the year he's turned pro, he's had 34 at the Tour de France, 15 at the Giro d'Italia, two points jerseys at the Tour and a World Championship title back in 2011. Sure enough last year he made a remarkable comeback as he was signed by the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team and won four stages at the Tour de France, equalling the stage win record of Eddy Merckx.

"In every interview I do I'll talk about my problems because if one person can take something from it then it's worth it. I'll talk about it because I know how damaging it can be not just for your life but other people around you," he added.

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Asked about his comeback last year, he has talked about how he's persevered in the peloton and managed to return to his best level after several years at a modest level. "Last year I got asked a lot about stars aligning, but there's a difference between stars aligning and you going to every single star and burning your hands to pull it into line. As a sportsperson I can weep about my hard times, but that's what makes a comeback - when you've had hard times. I'm fortunate that a comeback means I've got something back."

He concluded with an positive note, seeking to inspire the same way he has managed to do so over his career: "A lot of people are in a position where they're still fighting. All I can say is, don't give up."