18 January 2023 , 13:51
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Mark Cavendish has kept his hopes of breaking a long-standing Tour de France record alive after confirming he has made a switch to Astana Qazaqstan. Cavendish has enjoyed plenty of success in the sport's flagship event, having secured 34-stage wins.
His latest Tour stage victory came back in 2021, equalling the record set by former Belgian star Eddy Merckx. Despite only being one win away from the outright record, there were fears Cavendish would never get the chance to reach the feat.
This comes after the British star's future remained up in the air after B&B Hotels-KTM were forced to disband, a team Cavendish had reportedly agreed terms with.
Despite the breakdown the 37-year-old has finally secured a new employer, having been signed by Astana Qazaqstan ahead of the 2023 campaign. As a result Cavendish has signed a one-year deal with the the Kazakh team.
Upon his arrival, team manager Alexandr Vinokurov said: "The arrival of a top sprinter in our team is kind of a challenge for us, but we are ready for it. We see new ways and new possibilities. The goals, however, are still the same – victories in any kind of race: Classics, stages in different stage races and, of course, in the Grand Tours.
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Mark Cavendish will be out for stage win number 35 in 2023 (AP)Cavendish himself was seemingly over the moon to strike a deal ahead of what could be a record-breaking deal. On his switch he commented: "I am really excited for this adventure. I raced with Alexandr Vinokurov for many years and now I’m racing with his two boys. I remember when they were children the same age as my own, dreaming to be bike racers.
“Astana Qazaqstan Team is going to be a great place to be successful, with a strong team led by Alexandr, a champion on the bike and a gentleman off the bike. I’ve enjoyed a long career already, but the joy of riding my bike and the hunger to continue winning are as bright as ever.”