Mark Cavendish offered one-year deal for 2024 – could he U-turn on retirement and return to Tour de France?

ByBen Snowball

Updated 09/07/2023 at 12:03 GMT

Could Mark Cavendish be tempted to delay his retirement for another year? His Tour de France swansong unravelled on Saturday when he crashed heavily and left the race in an ambulance, ending his quest for the outright stage record. But Astana-Qazaqstan are already trying to convince him to return in 2024 and go for a historic 35th win – and good friend Adam Blythe is among those not ruling it out.

Astana-Qazaqstan have asked Mark Cavendish to delay his retirement and return to the Tour de France in 2024 – but is it a realistic possibility?

Cavendish's hopes of claiming the outright record of stage victories at the Tour ended on Stage 8 when he broke his right collarbone in a heavy fall, leaving him tied with Belgian great Eddy Merckx on 34 wins.

But Astana boss Alexander Vinokourov has already begun a charm offensive and is hoping to convince the 38-year-old to race again next season.

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"Yes, we want Mark to go on to 2024 and race his 15th Tour de France to win his 35th stage," Vinokourov told L'Equipe.

"I myself suffered a fractured femur in 2011 on the Tour and it was supposed to be my last year but I didn't want to stop just like that.

"I stayed on and fought hard to win the Olympic Games in London the following year. Mark has the same mentality and the same determination to achieve his ultimate goal. We're ready to give him that opportunity. But it's up to him."

Over on The Breakaway ahead of Stage 9, Cavendish's good friend Adam Blythe said he "wouldn't be surprised" if he returned for another crack at the Tour in 2024, while Robbie McEwen urged him to think long and hard before making a final decision to retire.

• 'Cavendish was almost nailed on to win a stage... it's so sad'
• Pedersen wins Stage 8 as Van Aert denied, Cavendish crashes out

'What an absolute disaster' – Cavendish crashes out on Stage 8 as record bid ends

"I can't imagine he would [delay retirement] but it’s Mark Cavendish, I wouldn't be surprised if he did say 'yeah go on then, I'll give it another year'," said Blythe.

"I think the way this has finished, the dedication, the time away from the family, his kids especially, I can't imagine he'll want to do another year and having to go through all that again.

"Because that [crashing] could happen on day one next year as well. It's a lot of time you have to invest in ifs and buts."

Cavendish was denied a record 35th win after suffering a mechanical on Stage 7 in the final sprint.

"The lure of getting to next year's Tour and getting that stage… The crash could happen again next year, but he could win too. And you're a long time retired. You've got one chance to keep going," said McEwen.

"If he says 'I'm done', that is it. That's the rest of your life, you're retired for a long, long time.

"He should take the time to really consider it, not just make a one-day decision."

'He'll be torn up about it, it's just so sad' – Blythe reacts to Cavendish crash

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