Mark Cavendish joins Astana Qazaqstan for 2023 season as he looks to break Tour de France stage wins record
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Updated 17/01/2023 at 13:39 GMT
Mark Cavendish will ride for Astana Qazaqstan for the 2023 season, the two parties have confirmed. Cavendish, 37, didn't have his contract with Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl renewed and was linked with several teams in recent months. However, he has now committed to Astana. The British national road race champion has won 34 stages at the Tour de France – a record he jointly holds with Eddy Merckx.
'I can still write chapters there' - Cavendish hopeful of Tour appearance in 2023
Astana Qazaqstan have confirmed the signing of Mark Cavendish for the 2023 season.
Cavendish, whose contract at Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl was not renewed last year, had been linked with a number of teams for this year’s WorldTour but has been training with Astana in recent weeks.
He was also recently spotted loading luggage into a team branded car.
The Manxman has now committed to the Kazakh team, for whom former Vuelta a Espana winner Alexandr Vinokurov is general manager, expressing his delight in a statement on the team website:
“I am really excited for this adventure. I raced with Alexandr Vinokurov for many years, and now I’m racing with his two boys! I remember when they were children the same age as my own, dreaming to be bike racers.
"Astana Qazaqstan Team is going to be a great place to be successful, with a strong team led by Alexandr, a champion on the bike and a gentleman off the bike.
"I’ve enjoyed a long career already, but the joy of riding my bike and the hunger to continue winning are as bright as ever.
"So I’m looking forward to being part of a successful team, whether working with the team for wins, crossing the line first myself, or cheering on my team-mates. As always, the objective will be for us to stand on the top podium”.
The team earlier teased the signing of Cavendish tweeting his picture with the caption, "still waiting?"
Astana announced the termination of Colombian rider Miguel Angel Lopez' contract recently, freeing a space in their squad.
This new opportunity with the team presents Cavendish with another opportunity to finally break the record of Tour de France stage wins.
Currently tied with Eddy Merckx on 34 victories, the sprinter will relish to opportunity to become the sole, all-time record holder at this year’s Tour in July.
Victory on Stage 3 of the 2022 Giro d’Italia was his 53rd overall in Grand Tours, keeping him third in the all-time list and 11 behind Merckx’ 64.
Cavendish is also the reigning British national road race champion following victory last summer.
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