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Mark Cavendish is concentrated on reaching excess of only one extra Tour de France stage victory throughout 2023, explaining to The Occasions that he’s nonetheless going at 37 just because he loves racing and has a brand new alternative at Astana Qazaqstan with out the pressures and expectations of the previous.
“The purpose is profitable. Not one specific win, it’s profitable,” Cavendish made clear in an extended interview with The Occasions (opens in new tab) earlier than travelling to the Center East to make his season debut on the Tour of Oman.
“The Tour de France is what I’ve at all times set my profession round, and from outdoors I’m properly conscious [what people will say]. We’re at that time I can stand alone [from Merckx]. One other win on the Tour is every little thing to folks however, for me, it’s not one win, it’s two or three, no matter I can do.
“For me it’s fairly easy. I can proceed using my bike, I can proceed profitable, so why not do it? I like it. I really like racing. It’s modified. The racing will not be as fulfilling however I nonetheless like it.”
The Occasions revealed {that a} Netflix documentary is in manufacturing about Cavendish’s profession, which started in 2005. There’s a number of floor to cowl, together with his growth inside and out of doors the Nice Britain monitor group, his Tour de France debut in London in 2007, his 2009 Milan-San Remo win, his world title in Copenhagen in 2011 and, after all, these 34 Tour de France stage victories.
Cavendish has additionally confronted and overcome large challenges, together with Epstein Barr Virus and scientific despair whereas within the hardest years of his profession between 2017 and 2020. He fought again to win 4 phases on the 2021 Tour de France with Patrick Lefevere’s QuickStep group, solely to be snubbed for a Tour place in 2022 after which let go.
He was set to steer the French B&B Accommodations group in 2023, solely to see the undertaking collapse because of an absence of sponsorship. A shock cellphone name from Astana Qazaqstan supervisor Alexander Vinokourov provided him an attention-grabbing lifeline and a brand new chapter in his profession.
Cavendish seems refreshed by Vinokourov’s much less pressured strategy and is motivated for the season forward, regardless of the latest public trial in Britain that introduced again the trauma of a 2021 knifepoint theft at Cavendish’s household house.
“I really feel I’ve been leaping via hoops for years,” Cavendish stated of his latest seasons.
“First, the Dimension Knowledge years when it was the group’s fault I used to be sick however I acquired thrown underneath the bus for it. That damage. Bahrain, even Fast-Step, I couldn’t put together, set a goal. That is the primary time I can set a purpose and work in the direction of it reasonably than really feel I’ve to show myself simply to get the chance.”
Cavendish lastly signed with Astana Qazaqstan in early January after already attending a coaching camp, with Vinokourov giving him time to stick with his household at house across the time of the trial.
The group are working laborious to assist Cavendish within the sprints, with Cees Bol additionally coming onboard as a lead out man and former sprinter and Champs Elysées stage winner Stefano Zanini because the group’s dash directeur sportif.
“I’ve been in groups the place I’ve been idolised and that’s laborious. You are feeling remoted. You are feeling that stress. I’ve been in groups the place I’ve been kicked, not bodily, however that’s additionally not good. Right here I simply really feel revered for what I’ve achieved, what I can obtain, and as an individual,” Cavendish defined of his resolution to hitch Astana Qazaqstan.
“Vino rang and stated, ‘What do you assume? I gained’t be capable of pay you what B&B would however come right here, there’s no stress’.
“We talked about the advantages but additionally what occurs if I’m not profitable, the way it goes the opposite method, and he simply stated, ‘It doesn’t matter. If we don’t win, we don’t win, however we go on making an attempt.’ No person had spoken to me like that in a very long time, a extremely very long time.
“It’s why it was good speaking to Vino. I felt I didn’t need to justify myself, my profession, my age. It’s ‘Can I win? Will I be completely satisfied?’ There’s stress that comes with my title, and industrial facets, however I simply needed honest compensation.”
Vinokourov comes together with his personal baggage as a rider from biking’s darkest blood doping period of the Nineties however Cavendish is solely in what he detects of the group tradition now.
“All I’ve seen is respect, not as in holding you excessive up however seeing that you’re a individual, not a commodity,” he stated.
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