British cycling legend Sir Mark Cavendish said he “couldn’t have wished for a better send-off” as he won the final race of his career.
The 39-year-old, who was knighted last month, said he was “so emotional” and “so grateful” after crossing the line in the 25-lap Singapore Criterium – his 166th victory.
“Thank you very much. I couldn’t have wished for a better send-off,” he told Eurosport after being congratulated by other riders, high-fiving fans and kissing his wife, Peta.
After winning the race in the Singapore sunshine, Sir Mark, who is known as the Manx Missile, said he was “quite emotional actually”.
“I realised in the last five laps was the last 15km of my career,” he said.
“I was so on the limit. The heat here is not nice for me, I didn’t race since the Tour de France so I’m missing the sharpness.”
“I really wanted that so bad and I’m so proud to win [it] as my last professional race.”
Sir Mark has not raced since a record-breaking 35th career Tour de France stage win in July in what he said would “likely” be his last race.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was among those to pay tribute to “a truly brilliant sportsman” at the time.
But after receiving his honour from the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle in October, Sir Mark said: “It will be really nice to race as a Knight Commander.”
In an Instagram post ahead of Sunday’s race, he posted a video that said: “My racing career… completed it.”
He added: “Sunday will be the final race of my professional cycling career.
“I am lucky enough to have done what I love for almost 20 years and I can now say that I have achieved everything that I can on the bike.
“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.
“Thank you, everyone, for all the support, always. Cav.”
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Sir Mark, whose professional cycling career began in 2005, was initially set to retire in 2023, but postponed that after crashing in that year’s Tour de France.
He has registered 166 career victories on the road, including the 2011 world title, stages of all three Grand Tours and the Milan-San Remo in 2009.
He also secured a silver medal in the omnium at the 2016 Rio Olympics, a Commonwealth scratch gold in 2006 representing the Isle of Man, and is a three-time Madison world champion on the track.
Speaking after his final victory, he said: “I’ve always loved this sport, especially the Tour de France… it isn’t just a bike race… it’s what children dream of, it’s what adults dream of, it’s what you pretend to do when you’re out training.”
He added: “I’m really looking forward to what the rest of my career holds, just not on a bike and I’m looking forward to seeing everybody soon.”
