After profitable the Lifetime Achievement Award on the BBC Sports activities Character of the 12 months, Mark Cavendish has mentioned that he thinks his future will likely be in biking, stating that he’s wanting in direction of “biking workforce administration” having hung up his wheels.
The Manxman acquired the BBC award award on stage alongside Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins on Tuesday evening. He rounded out the ultimate yr of his skilled profession with the prize, which recognised his Tour de France stage wins document set in the summertime.
Whereas British Olympic 800-metre gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson took house the evening’s most important award, Cavendish mentioned he would’ve appreciated to have been thought of for nomination, however famous that he hadn’t been in 2021, both.
Cavendish is now retired however stays aggressive.
“The lifetime award may be very good however, as a competitor, the primary award is being shortlisted. That is my job – to compete. Though a [Sports Personality of the Year] award is subjective it is nonetheless a contest,” Cavendish informed the Guardian in an interview with Donald McRae.
“A lifetime award is a bit like once I acquired my knighthood earlier within the yr. It isn’t one thing you are anticipating otherwise you work in direction of. It will get bestowed on you in order that’s very good.”
Cavendish mentioned that he has “accomplished the whole lot I may do in biking.” He mentioned that “In fact I’ll miss racing however I am blissful as a result of I’ve had 20 years and carried out greater than I ever may have deliberate or dreamed of doing.”
There’s nonetheless extra to come back for Cavendish in skilled biking, nonetheless, even when it is away from racing itself.
XDS Astana workforce supervisor Alexander Vinokourov confirmed to Cyclingnews that Cavendish will not be a part of the workforce workers in 2025, however the Manxman does see himself working within the sport going ahead.
“Clearly I’ve nonetheless received loads of life left, and I nonetheless have to supply for my household, and so I feel that is going to be in biking workforce administration. I do know the game and I understand how to construct a workforce and that is the place I am heading. It is thrilling,” he mentioned.
“There’s nothing extra I may have carried out within the sport. And there already was zero to be carried out a very long time in the past. I am very, very fortunate that I get to retire, having zero regrets. I am lastly going out on my phrases – not due to harm or some workforce supervisor attempting to make me retire.
“I’ve carried out the whole lot I needed and I am selecting the way in which I depart the game as a competitor. How fortunate is that?”