Cycling legend Mark Cavendish set for last race at Tour de France Singapore Criterium
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Apart from 35 Tour de France stage victories, Mark Cavendish (right) has also won the world road title and an omnium silver at the Olympics.
PHOTO: AFP
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SINGAPORE – As the curtain comes down on sprint legend Mark Cavendish’s storied career, the cyclist is expected to make one last competitive appearance at the Nov 9-10 Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium.
While the 39-year-old has not publicly announced his retirement, the Isle of Man rider has not competed since claiming a record 35th Tour de France stage victory in July, and has made it clear that he will not feature on the Tour again.
Known as “The Manx Missile”, Cavendish had initially announced his intention to retire in May 2023 but delayed it and signed a contract extension with Astana-Qazaqstan team until the end of the 2024 season to pursue the record for the most Tour de France stage wins.
Before his history-making victory at Saint Vulbas three months ago, Cavendish, who also won the 2011 world road title and an omnium silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics, shared the record (34) with the iconic Eddy Merckx.
Cavendish, who received his knighthood on Oct 2, is among several top cyclists who will be racing along Singapore’s streets in November as organisers unveiled the nine teams competing in the professional criterium.
Several winners of the 21 stages on the 2024 Tour de France, which include Cavendish, Biniam Girmay, Victor Campenaerts, Anthony Turgis and 2023 Singapore winner Jasper Philipsen, will feature in the Republic.
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said: “With Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali and Primoz Roglic also joining, the public will once again have the opportunity to enjoy a spectacular show featuring the biggest champions of the Tour.
“The Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium is sure to be a fantastic celebration of cycling.”
Slovenian Roglic, whose accolades include three Tour de France stage wins and a runner-up finish at the 2020 Tour de France, will be representing the TDF Legends, alongside four-time Tour de France champion Froome, Japanese rider Yukiya Arashiro and Nibali.
Italian Nibali is making a special appearance after retiring in 2022. The 39-year-old is one of just seven cyclists who have won all three of cycling’s Grand Tours – the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana.
UNO-X Mobility cyclist Jonas Abrahamsen, who has enjoyed a breakthrough season in which he clinched his first professional win at the Brussels Cycling Classic in June, will also be in town.
In his second Tour de France this year, the Norwegian was king of the mountains for 10 stages and was named the most combative rider on Stage 2 and 8 of the race.
Singapore will be also be represented in the pro race by national road race champion Yeo Boon Kiak and runner-up Tong Khoon Fung, mountain bike XCO national champion Arfan Faisal and national Under-23 road race champion Eamon Lim.
“It’s an honour to have this chance to race in the same event as some of the best riders in the world,” said Tong, who joined the Singapore Cycling Federation’s national development squad in 2022.
“My teammates and I have been training hard to be ready for this race – we know it won’t be easy but experiences like these will help us become better cyclists individually and as a team.
“We’re looking forward to giving our best performance for our friends, family and fellow Singaporeans.”
The third edition of the Singapore Criterium will feature a shorter 2.3km route – compared to the 3km route in 2023 – starting from Connaught Drive before looping around Esplanade Drive, going past landmarks such as the Cenotaph, Esplanade Park, Padang and Merlion.
