What could be keeping Mark Cavendish going?

Last year Cavendish had reason to change his mind; He had ties to the big team. Eddy Merckx He was 34 years old and wanted a chance to make the stage record his own rather than crashing out and leaving, and his decision to return was vindicated.

So what will the return in 2025 do? Why would Mark Cavendish return?

First of all, it’s important to note that he didn’t say he would return. As it stands, this weekend in Singapore will be the 2011 world road race champion’s last time in the saddle as a professional rider. As a matter of fact, Saitama dismissed questions about his plans by saying, “I’m not here to talk about my future.”

But there are compelling reasons for the Isle of Man native to rethink the issue. Although it already holds the stage record, there are two major draws on next year’s TdF route.

The first is relative flatter opening With the race featuring a possible group sprint at the end of the opening stage, an opportunity opens up for a sprinter – Cavendish? – wearing what is prestigious race leader’s yellow jersey.

“It’s quite a contrast to this year,” Cavendish said when asked about his thoughts on the 2025 courses. “Although there are some pretty flat or really mountainous days this year, it’s kind of subdued so that the mountain days aren’t as shocking as last year. The profile is a lot more ‘moderate’ profile, I guess.”

This could make it easier for pure sprinters like Cavendish to reach the championship. final stagereturns to: Champs-Élysées He is in Paris after going to Nice this year for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Cavendish holds the record for most stage wins in the Champions League with four wins, although that record comes fifth. 50 years Since the race originally finished on Paris’ famous boulevard, it would be a pretty good way to take part in the race.

And there’s the matter of repaying your faith Alexander Vinokourovmanaging director of Cavendish Astana Kazakhstan The team that believed in him for the last two seasons.

Astana is under threat relegation They have risen from their UCI WorldTour status to the second-tier ProTour and currently sit last among WorldTour teams in the team standings. A few more race wins for Cavendish would certainly help them earn much-needed points to retain their WorldTour license for the next three years.