Mark Cavendish has revealed he will “stay in cycling management” once he has finished racing.
The Manxman, who is approaching the end of his long and storied career, added that he had “already set the wheels in motion” for his next move.
Cavendish, 39, delayed his planned retirement to have another crack at the Tour de France stage record with Astana Qazaqstan this summer.
He successfully claimed his 35th Tour stage win to go clear of Eddy Merckx and into sole ownership of the all-time stage record. Cavendish has not competed since and there is some doubt around when exactly he will step back from racing completely.
Organisers of the two-day Tour de France Criterium in Singapore from November 9 to 10 announced recently that the event would be his last of the year, but Cavendish may yet do a few races next year for his own enjoyment. However, he has definitely ruled out another Tour de France.
Speaking to Men’s Health magazine, Cavendish said he was already well advanced with plans for what comes next.
‘It’s about starting something new’
“I speak to Peta [his wife] a lot about replacing the thrill of what I do…For me, though, it’s not about stopping,” he said. “It’s about starting something new. I will always ride a bike, but the past few years I’ve known what I want to do after. I’ve set the wheels in motion for that. I want to stay in management in the sport, I still love it.
“I brought a lot of people to this team [Astana Qazaqstan] over the past two years, and I know what it takes to be successful. I’ve been building up to the moment I’m not racing.”
Cavendish told the fitness magazine that he had recently taken up running and found the “purity” of the sport appealing after decades spent slavishly looking at his cycling computer.
“I will always ride my bike, but I want to run now,” said the Manxman, who has won 165 races since the start of his professional career in 2005, including the 2011 world road title, while he also won Olympic omnium silver at Rio 2016.
“It’s pure – get your shoes on and off you go! I’ve already agreed to do the Paris marathon with my brother…I’m really looking forward to the time when I don’t have to wake up and do a specific programme on a computer. I can just ride with my friends, it doesn’t matter if I go fast or slow.”
‘I feel broken’
Cavendish added that he felt his age. He admitted that the many injuries he suffered in his career had left him feeling “broken” and that it took him a good hour of warming up before he could start to think about putting in an effort.
“I feel old now,” he said. “I feel broken. It takes me a while to get going. These days, I’m like a diesel engine – which I never was before. When I’m on the bike, it takes me an hour before I start to do intervals and all of that. I’m not going to injure myself, but I’m never going to get the best out of myself unless I’m warm. Just to get fit in general now, it’s so f—— hard.”
He also said he was looking forward to spending more relaxed time with his family.
“I really love switching off with the family – it’s so rewarding for me. Having to get dressed for breakfast is just hassle. I just want to stumble downstairs and make a coffee in my pants. My favourite thing is dinner time, all of us. A full table, Peta cooking. She is incredible in the kitchen.
“The sport does f— you,” he reflected. “Solitude is a big thing. So much time on the bike. So much time travelling. So much time alone – it doesn’t matter if you like your own time. I do, but too much of it is not good for you.”
