"We want Mark to continue in 2024" - Alexander Vinokourov keen on renewing Mark Cavendish and prolong career into 2024

Mark Cavendish has sprinted to second place two days ago at the Tour de France, coming ever so close to the record breaking victory he's seeking at the Tour de France. That dream may have ended as he crashed out of the race yesterday, however Astana Qazaqstan Team are keen on keeping him onboard into 2024.

“We want Mark to continue in 2024 and ride his 15th Tour de France to win his 35th stage. I myself suffered a femur fracture in the 2011 Tour and that would be my last year, but I didn't want to just stop," Alexander Vinokourov told L'Équipe. "I stayed and fought hard to become Olympic champion in London the following year. Mark has the same mindset and determination to achieve his ultimate goal. We are ready to give him that chance. But it's up to him."

This declaration comes as a relative surprise, taking into consideration that the Manxman has already held a press conference during the Giro d'Italia where he announced his retirement from cycling at the end of 2023. After many years in a roller-coaster, 2023 was to be his final year, and days later he surged to take a spectacular win in Rome on the final day of the Corsa Rosa.

Up to now, his Tour de France performances had been quite positive, with Cavendish holding well when it came to positioning, and coming close to a victory himself. He would have more opportunities to beat the competition, but in any case his retirement seemed to be in set stone. He crashed and fractured a collarbone during stage 8, however with Vinokourov's statements it now begs the question on whether this will be his final year in the peloton or not yet.