Cycling: Mark Cavendish announces intention to retire at the end of the year

Mark Cavendish has announced he will retire from professional cycling at the end of the current season.

Cavendish, who celebrated his 38th birthday on Sunday, made the announcement at a press conference on the rest day of the Giro d'Italia.

Cavendish said: "I've absolutely loved racing every kilometre of this race so far, so I feel it's the perfect time to say it's my final Giro d'Italia and 2023 will be my final season as a professional cyclist."

There was a time when it seemed like the only person that could beat Mark Cavendish in a sprint was himself.

If he and his lead-out train executed everything according to plan, nobody else stood a chance.

Between 2007 and 2015, the Manx Missile piled up 133 victories, including the 2011 world title, stages of all three Grand Tours, Milan-Sanremo in 2009, and so much more.

He was, quite simply, the greatest sprinter cycling had ever seen.

Drive and determination had taken him from being what he called a "fat banker" - working shifts in a branch of Barclays to fund his racing ambitions - through British Cycling's academy to the professional ranks at rapid pace.

Having turned professional in 2005, the same year he won the first of his three Madison world titles on the track, Cavendish's results - coupled with a personal letter written to T-Mobile team boss Bob Stapleton - earned him a move to what is now the WorldTour in 2007.

His first Tour de France ended in frustration, a crash on stage two denying him a chance of victory in Canterbury, but the following summer Cavendish began a period of almost unprecedented domination - 20 Tour stage wins in the span of four years between 2008 and 2011.

The first came on stage five into Chateauroux. Mark Renshaw, who would help Cavendish to 19 of his stage wins, was not yet a team-mate, but Cavendish took his cue anyway, following his lead-out of Thor Hushovd to win with ease, crossing the line holding his head in his hands.

It would soon become routine. He took three more that summer despite leaving the race after stage 14 to focus on the Olympics, six in 2009, then five each in 2010 and 2011.

Won the first of his Madison world titles on the track, partnering Rob Hayles after replacing the injured Geraint Thomas.

Took gold in the scratch race at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Moved up to what is now the WorldTour level on the road and took a breakthrough victory at Scheldeprijs.

Finished the season with 11 victories, equalling Alessandro Petacchi's record for a debut campaign.

Took a second Madison world title, this time with Bradley Wiggins, in Manchester.

Won four stages of the Tour de France and two stages of the Giro d'Italia

Became the second Briton to win a Monument with victory in Milan-Sanremo

Won six stages of the Tour, and wore the leader's jersey for two days at the Giro after taking four stages.

Won five stages of the Tour.

Wore the leader's red jersey for two stages of the Vuelta a Espana and won the points classification after taking four stages.

Became the second British road race world champion after Tom Simpson with victory in Copenhagen

Won five stages of the Tour de France along with the points classification. Wore the leader's jersey at the Giro and won three stages.

Won three Tour stages, and three stages of the Giro, wearing the leader's pink jersey for three days.

Won two Tour stage and five Giro stages, wearing the leader's pink jersey for one day.

Became British national champion.

Won one stage of the Tour.

Won four stages of the Tour, wearing the leader's yellow jersey for the first time after the opening stage and completing his set of wearing the leader's jersey in all three grand tours.

Became Madison world champion for the third time, winning with Wiggins in London.

Won his first Olympic medal with silver in the omnium.

Tasted victory for the first time in more than three years when he headed a bunch sprint across the line at the Tour of Turkey, the first of four stage wins at the race.

Followed up by winning the final stage of the Belgium Tour, before matching the Tour de France stage wins record when collecting the 34th of his career in Carcassonne on July 9.

2022

Won his 16th Giro d'Italia stage when he sprinted to victory on stage three in Hungary.

Added a second British road title to his career with success in Scotland in June.

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