‘Completed it’ – Sir Mark Cavendish announces final career race on Sunday

Sir Mark Cavendish has announced Sunday’s Singapore Criterium will be the final race of his professional cycling career.

Cavendish, 39, who received his knighthood last month, finished this season with a record-breaking 35th career Tour stage win in what he said would “likely” be his last race.

But after receiving his knighthood from the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on October 2, he said “it will be really nice to race as a Knight Commander”.

An image posted on his Instagram site carried the words: “My racing career… completed it.”

Cavendish wrote alongside the image: “Sunday will be the final race of my professional cycling career.

“I am lucky enough to have done what I love for almost 20 years and I can now say that I have achieved everything that I can on the bike.

“Cycling has given me so much and I love the sport, I’ve always wanted to make a difference in it and now I am ready to see what the next chapter has in store for me.

“Thank you, everyone, for all the support, always. Cav.”

Cavendish, who has not competed since breaking the Tour de France stage wins record with his 35th victory in July, has registered 165 career victories on the road, including the 2011 world title, stages of all three Grand Tours, and Milan-San Remo in 2009.

He also secured a silver medal in the omnium at the 2016 Olympics and Commonwealth Scratch gold in 2006 representing the Isle of Man, and is a three-time Madison world champion on the track.