Sir Mark Cavendish has announced his retirement from professional cycling.
The British cycling legend will race for the final time this weekend at the Tour de France Criterium in Singapore on 10 November.
Sir Mark was initially set to retire in 2023, but postponed that after crashing in that year’s Tour de France.
The 39-year-old cycling sprinter finished this season with a record-breaking 35th career tour stage in what he said at the time would “likely” be his last race.
But, after receiving his knighthood on 2 October from the Prince of Wales, he said: “It would be really nice to race as a Knight Commander.”
Sharing the news on his Instagram, the Manx rider, whose professional cycling career began in 2005, posted a video that said: “My racing career… completed it.”
He added: “Sunday will be the final race of my professional cycling career.
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“I am lucky enough to have done what I love for almost 20 years and I can now say that I have achieved everything that I can on the bike.
“Cycling has given me so much and I love the sport, I’ve always wanted to make a difference in it and now I am ready to see what the next chapter has in store for me.
“Thank you, everyone, for all the support, always. Cav”.
Until this weekend, Sir Mark had not competed since his Tour de France stage win in July.
He has registered 165 career victories on the road, including the 2011 world title, stages of all three Grand Tours and the Milan-San Remo in 2009.
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He also secured a silver medal in the omnium at the 2016 Rio Olympics, a Commonwealth scratch gold in 2006 representing the Isle of Man, and is a three-time Madison world champion on the track.
