"We hadn't spoken in three and a half years": Former sports director about complicated relationship with Mark Cavendish
Cycling
The relationship between former Danish cyclist and sports director Brian Holm and legendary British sprinter Mark Cavendish has been marked by ups and downs, tensions, reconciliations and prolonged silences.
In the most recent episode of the Danish podcast Café Eddy, Holm revealed that, after more than three years without speaking to each other, he received an unexpected call from Cavendish that could mark a new stage in their complex friendship. "I haven't spoken to Cavendish in three and a half years. There was bad vibes, as they say. And one day, when I get home, I see I have two missed calls from him. I look at him and think, 'Idiot,'" Holm recounted with a chuckle.
The friendship between the two dates back to 2007, when a young Cavendish, still carrying a few extra kilos, joined Team T-Mobile, where Holm served as sport director. Since then, they have shared key moments in their professional careers, especially during their joint stint at Quick-Step between 2013-2015 and again in 2021-2022.
However, not everything has been harmony. Holm acknowledged that arguments have been a recurring part of her relationship with the Brit. "We've had many, many fights. Even during the Giro d'Italia, Cavendish momentarily left me out as his best man," he revealed.
Three years of silence
Holm explained that, unlike other disputes that used to be resolved in a matter of months, this latest estrangement dragged on for more than three years. "Normally it took us half a year to make peace. This time we broke records," admitted the Dane. "So much so that I had already written him off as a friend."
Mark Cavendish is one of the greatest legends in the history of cycling.
After ignoring a call from Holm the year before, Cavendish surprised by contacting him directly. The Dane's initial reaction was skepticism: "I wrote to him, 'Are you calling to insult me or what?' And he replied, 'No, I just want to chat.' So I called him and we talked for an hour."
True to his style, Holm couldn't help but share an anecdote loaded with irony: "Afterwards, Cavendish went and told our common agent, Joona Laukka, that it was me who called him. But it was him who called me first! I just want to make that clear," he said with a laugh.
Despite the conflicts, the professional respect between the two remains intact. Cavendish has on multiple occasions described Holm as his "best friend," and there is no doubt that the Dane has been a key figure in his career. "It was a pleasure to work with him, although it also took a lot of effort. But not in a negative way; it was part of our job as sports directors," Holm said in an interview with Ritzau in 2023.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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