July 17th 2024.
After an intense stage 15 of the Tour de France, Mark Cavendish triumphantly crossed the finish line, surrounded by his cheering team-mates. Their congratulatory slaps on the back were accompanied by a loud "F***ing good job, mate." Only fellow riders of the Tour could truly understand the physical and mental exhaustion that came with such a feat.
In true Cavendish fashion, his first words upon crossing the finish line were words of gratitude for his team. "Thank you so much guys, you're legends," he exclaimed. "Absolute legends." But amidst the celebratory atmosphere, Cavendish's victory was not just another win. It was a victory over time itself.
With more Tour stage wins than any other rider, Cavendish was used to crossing the finish line ahead of his competition. But this time, the finish line was creeping up from behind, not in front. After six grueling hours, five minutes, and 30 seconds of racing, he had barely beaten the time cut by a mere one minute and 47 seconds. Just two minutes later and he would have missed the cutoff, ending his final Tour de France.
While the front of the race is often glorified, Cavendish's determination and perseverance at the back of the pack showed true nobility. In other sports, athletes are cheered on by thousands of fans, but in cycling, the pain and struggles are endured alone. As the race coverage moved on to other programming, Cavendish continued to push through, facing physical and mental challenges that most of us could never imagine.
One may wonder why, after already securing his place in Tour history by winning more stages than any other rider, Cavendish was still riding. For the past decade-and-a-half, he has been asked about the possibility of reaching stage win number 35. Some may view it as motivation, but for Cavendish, it also became a burden.
After years of battling illness, depression, and team non-selection, along with the physical toll of professional cycling, one would understand if Cavendish chose to end his career on a high note. But his love and respect for the sport, and the sacrifices that come with it, kept him going.
Despite his passion, Cavendish's body was starting to show signs of fatigue. On stage 16, his last chance for a sprint victory, he came in 17th. With no more sprints left to fight for, and the grueling mountain stages ahead, it was time for him to reflect on his incredible career and accomplishments.
Let us not forget the commitment and discipline of a man who has dedicated his life to this sport. Let us celebrate the rivalry between Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, but also give credit to Cavendish for continuing to push through and prove his doubters wrong. As his career comes to a close, let us take a moment to honor one of the greatest athletes of all time. Arise Sir Mark Cavendish. It's been one hell of a ride.
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