Emotional Cavendish bows out with a trademark finish

Sir Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory in his final race in professional cycling yesterday, bringing to an end a glittering career that will see him immortalised in the history of the sport.

- ADAM HANCOCK

Singapore’s Connaught Drive may lack the cycling heritage of the Champs-Elysees, but it will now be a memorable spot for Cavendish as the location of the final sprint of his career. The “Manx Missile” raised his arms in celebration as he crossed the line for the last time, signing off with a victory in the Tour de France Singapore Criterium.

On a sweltering hot day filled with sentiment, Cavendish received a guard of honour from his fellow racers as he made his way to the start line. “That was the first time I properly got emotional today. It was very, very nice and very unexpected,” he said.

He announced his retirement on social media on Saturday, clearing up any speculation that he might be considering one final season in the sport. “I could see the laps counting down, and I knew they were the last 25 laps of my career, the last 15 laps, the last 10 laps, the last three laps, the last lap and then the last kilometre,” Cavendish said as he held back the tears after the podium presentation. “It was nice, I felt every bit of it.”