SINGAPORE — Mark Cavendish, widely recognized as one of the greatest road sprinters in the history of cycling, has announced his plans to retire on Sunday following his participation in the Tour de France Criterium.

At the age of 39, Cavendish made headlines earlier this year by surpassing Eddy Merckx’s legendary record for the most career stage victories in the Tour de France, notching his 35th win in July.

In a heartfelt message shared on Instagram, the Isle of Man cyclist reflected on his two-decade journey in the sport, expressing gratitude for the opportunities cycling has provided him. “I am lucky enough to have done what I love for 20 years and I can now say that I have achieved everything that I can on the bike,” he wrote, adding, “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.”

Known affectionately as the “Manx Missile,” Cavendish confirmed that his final professional cycling event will take place on Sunday. Initially, he intended to retire after the 2023 season but later decided to return to the sport with the ambition of setting a new record for Tour de France stage wins.

During the 2021 Tour, Cavendish had equaled Merckx’s mark of 34 stage victories. However, unlike the remarkable Belgian cyclist, Cavendish has not claimed an overall title in the prestigious race.

His illustrious career includes stage wins at all three Grand Tours: the Giro d’Italia, the Vuelta a España, and he also achieved the title of world champion in 2011.