Mark Cavendish, one of the most successful cyclists, will end his career at the end of the season, the BBC writes. On Sunday, the British man turned 38 years old.

Mark Cavendish ends his cycling career

Cavendish, who is currently playing for Astana, said this during a press conference at the Giro d’Italia.

“Cycling has been my life for more than 25 years. He taught me so much about life, dedication, commitment, sacrifice and perseverance – all important things that I now have to pass on as a father.

Cycling has given me the opportunity to see the world and meet some incredible people, whether involved in the sport or not – many of whom I call friends.

Today is my son Casper’s birthday, who turns five; it’s a day off and I can spend it with them now. Now it is important to be at every birthday party, at every school concert – it is important that I can be close to them” – Mark Cavendishthe BBC reports.

Mark Cavendish, a difficult end to his career

Cavendish has battled injury and illness since 2017, hinting at the end of the 2020 season that he may retire.

After returning to form the following year, he won four more Tour stages and took the green jersey in his second stint with the successful Quick Step team, helping to revive his career.

Cavendish and his family then became the victims of a brutal robbery at their home in 2021.

He was dropped from the Quick Step team for the next year’s Tour and then signed a contract with Astana until 2023.

“This is a great opportunity to say with absolute joy in my heart that this will be my last season as a professional cyclist.

At this point there is no need to talk about my immediate and long-term plans – I will always be a cyclist, that’s for sure.

But during this last stretch, I just want to enjoy what has made me happy for the last 25 years, and that just means competing.” – Mark Cavendish.

What you need to know about the career of Mark Cavendish

• Cavendish enjoyed a brilliant career as a sprinter, winning the flatter and faster stages of the race, especially the Grand Tour.

• Since 2005, he has won 161 races and two green jerseys in the Tour de France.

• In 2021, he repeated the record of the legendary Eddy Merckx, who won 34 stages of the Tour de France. Mark will attempt to break the record at this year’s edition of the race, which starts in Bilbao, Spain on July 1.

• Cavendish’s other notable achievements include a silver medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016, the 2009 Milan-San Remo one-day monument classic, 16 stage wins at the Giro (Tour of Italy) and three La Vuelta (Tour of Spain) victories. .