What could keep Mark Cavendish going?

Last year, Cavendish had a reason to change his mind: he had been tied with the great Eddy Merckx at 34 and wanted the chance to make the stage record his own instead of crashing out, and his decision to return was justified.

So what purpose would a return in 2025 possibly serve? Why would Mark Cavendish return?

First, it’s important to note that he hasn’t said he’ll be back. As things stand, this weekend in Singapore will remain the last time the 2011 road racing world champion climbs into the saddle as a professional cyclist. In fact, in Saitama, he downplayed questions about his plans, saying, “I’m not here to talk about my future.”

But there are compelling reasons for the Isle of Man native to reconsider. Although it already holds the stage record, there are two important attractions on next year’s TdF route.

The first is the relatively flatter opening to the race, which includes a probable group sprint at the end of the initial stage, opening the possibility for a sprinter: Cavendish? – wear the prestigious race leader’s yellow jersey.

“It’s a big contrast to this year,” Cavendish said when asked for his opinion on the 2025 courses. “While this year there were quite flat or very hilly days, it’s flattened out a little bit so that the hilly days aren’t as impactful.” like last year. I guess the profile is much more ‘average’.”

That could make it easier for pure sprinters like Cavendish to reach the final. final stagethat returns to the Champs Elysées in Paris after a detour to Nice this year due to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Cavendish already holds the record for most stage wins in the Championships with four, but a fifth, in the edition. 50 years Since the race finished for the first time on the famous Parisian boulevard, it would be a good way to sign off.

And there is the matter of paying the faith of Alexander VinokourovCavendish CEO Astana Qazaqstan team that has believed in him for the last two seasons.

Astana is under threat of decline from their UCI WorldTour status to second-tier ProTour and currently sit last among WorldTour teams in the team standings. A few more Cavendish wins would surely help them earn much-needed points to retain their WorldTour license for the next three years.