Several news outlets are reporting that Mark Cavendish, the most winning sprinter from the 2021 Tour de France, has finally secured a 2022 contract from his Quick Step – Alpha Vinyl team. Negotiations for 2022 have been underway since the conclusion of the Tour de France, but dragged on until today’s announcement.
Cavendish had returned to the Quick Step organization at the start of 2021, a team where he enjoyed a lot of early-career success. He was reportedly so eager to return to the Belgian team that he helped to find sponsorship to cover his basic salary. Though it’s safe to say that his career is nearing its nadir, he proved his worth with a victory at the Tour of Turkey and four stage wins and the green points jersey at the Tour de France.
Cavendish has since revealed he was tempted to announce his retirement if he had won the final stage of the Tour on the Champs-Élysées. However, he only finished third and soon realized he wanted to race on in 2022.
“I wanted Mark to win a fifth stage in Paris and say Ciao there but athletes who get older have a hard time saying goodbye,” Lefevere told Sporza and other Belgian media after the presentation of a deal between his team and the Belgian city of Ypres to promote cycling holidays in the area. “After the presentation of the Tour in Paris in October, we sat together again. I then asked him if he would like to race for another year. He said yes, even if he had won on the Champs-Élysées. What happens next? We don’t know that yet but I’m not committing for more than a year.”
Cavendish will join his teammates at a get together in Calpe, Spain next week. Cavendish is still off the bike for several weeks to make a full recovery from the injuries he suffered at the Ghent Six Day race.
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