"When I’ve had time to process, we’ll see what happens" - Mark Cavendish hints at postponing retirement again to ride in 2025

Mark Cavendish successfully completed 'Project 35' at the 2024 Tour de France, breaking Eddy Merckx's long-held Tour de France stage win record and seemingly ending his professional career on the ultimate high. As it turns out though, 'The Manx Missile' might not yet be fully done.

A special guest at the final stage of the 2024 Tour of Britain, Cavendish and his son joined Ned Boulting and former Tour de France stage winner and Maillot Jaune wearer David Millar in the commentary booth for ITV Sport. Whilst in the box, talk turned away from the action on the road and onto the future plans of Cavendish for the rest of 2024 and beyond.

“I’m still racing for a couple of months, and I’m definitely not finished this year. I still don’t know what happens after," the 39-year-old Astana Qazaqstan Team sprinter assesses thoughtfully. “I know I won’t be doing the Tour de France again. I said that before the Tour and after. I’m just taking time with my family and really chilling."

“I’ve actually taken time off before getting going again, and I’m training again now. When I’ve had time to process, we’ll see what happens in the future,” continues 'Cav', who still has the Asian Tour de France criteriums on his calendar for 2024. As far as 2025 goes however... “Perhaps," Cavendish answers when pressed. "I don’t know.”

If Cavendish does return to the professional peloton in 2025, it would be the second time he has announced his retirement only to then revert back on that decision. In 2023, Cavendish was first set to retire, but after crashing out of the Tour de France, the legendary Brit returned in 2024 to complete his unfinished business. As mentioned at the 2024 Tour de France, Cavendish then took a record breaking 35th stage win. Time will tell if he has any more big wins to add to his palmares!