Mark Cavendish backed to return ahead of Tour de France 2024 by …

Sir Chris Hoy believes Mark Cavendish will mount one final comeback and break the Tour de France stage win record in 2024. Cavendish was named in the British squad for Sunday’s UCI World Championship road race near Glasgow but withdrew due to the broken collarbone that ended his Tour hopes.

The 38-year-old, seemingly stranded on 35 stage wins and level with Eddy Merckx, has been offered one final fling by his Astana-Qazaqstan team. “At the start of the season, I said it was definitely his last year,” said six-time Olympic champion Hoy, speaking at an event at Cumbernauld Centurions – a BMX Club near Glasgow – to celebrate how National Lottery players have transformed cycling in the UK, with more than £143 million invested since National Lottery funding began.

“But having seen how much Cav enjoyed and relished the Tour de France, it wasn’t like he was there with a burden of winning another stage. He had a smile on his face from ear to ear, on every stage. He was relishing the challenge and feeling like he was getting back to something like his best.”

The Manx Missile came within a whisker of breaking Merckx’s record on stage eight in Bordeaux before a crash forced him to abandon. Questions of a potential comeback in 2024 were ruled as off limits by Cavendish in a new Netflix documentary, Never Enough , that charts the twilight of his career.

“I wouldn’t put it past Cav,” added Hoy, who will be a central figure in BBC coverage of the UCI World Championships, with track action in the velodrome that bears his name running until Wednesday. “I’ve just got a feeling he’ll come back. I don’t know anything, I haven’t been told anything, but I would love to see him have one more year.

“I think as long as the passion is still there and he’s injury-free, there’s no reason why he can’t be there. He might not be the fastest in the world anymore but he has the ability to win stages because of his experience. No-one knows more about positioning in the bunch and lining himself up than him. I’d put money on him winning a stage if he does come back.”

Great Britain is now a global cycling force, having won 28 Golds at the last four Olympic Games and taking 58 medals since National Lottery funding began – vs four medals prior. But it’s not just the elite athletes who are benefiting from funding, so far £22.5 million of National Lottery funding has specifically been awarded to develop over 700 BMX projects and skateboarding activities in local communities across the UK for young people to participate and enjoy the sport.

More than 30,000 children & their parents have attended Pedal Party events since 2016 - sessions are run in communities and are designed to build confidence and encourage families to cycle.

Hoy, 47, has experienced the transformational impact of National Lottery funding first-hand and added: “I was incredibly lucky that my career spanned a period before and after National Lottery funding, so I got to see and benefit from that absolute transformation.

“£143 million has been pumped into cycling since National Lottery funding began in 1998 and the results speak for themselves. We’re the most successful cycling nation in the world, with 28 Olympic medals and 96 Paralympic medals since then.

“The money doesn’t just buy medals, it provides opportunities for people to shine. It’s not just about the elite level. Taking Cumbernauld BMX track as an example, £30,000 has been given to develop this facility and we’re seeing so many kids take advantage of it. It’s wonderful to see.

“You get so many opportunities and take so many life lessons from taking part in sport and exercise. I think back to when I was eight, nine, 10 years old, the highs and lows, it’s stuff you learn that carries you through your life. It’s great to see The National Lottery’s ongoing support. The public knows that when they buy a ticket, they’re contributing to these wonderful situations.”

National Lottery players raise more than £30million a week for good causes including vital funding into sport – from grassroots to elite. Find out how your numbers make amazing happen at: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk #ThanksToYou #MakeAmazingHappen^[1]

References

1. ^{^} www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk (linkprotect.cudasvc.com)