Mark Cavendish: You can't imagine how much cycling has changed

Mark Cavendish has described how professional cycling in 2024 is “worlds apart” from the sport he entered as a 20-year-old back in 2006.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with GCN at the recent UAE Tour, the 34-time Tour de France stage winner, reflected on his illustrious 17-year career and impending retirement.

“I’m pretty sure it’s my last year,” he said, with a hint of hesitation, leaving the door ever-so-slightly ajar, although it was more a case of learning to never say never after he rowed back on the retirement announcement he made last May.

Asked by GCN presenter Alan Marangoni, who used to share a peloton with Cavendish, how much cycling has changed since he started racing, Cavendish was emphatic: “You cannot imagine how much cycling has changed.

“I think there have been three or four iterations of cycling [in that time],” he added, before examining what exactly had changed. “It was more closed. The whole world has changed with information and the things that are available. We raced, and the race was reported on. Now, it’s everything you do…

“Pro cycling was a closer community. Everyone knew each other, we all knew we had a similar kind of job and were all in it together. Then the stakes became higher, there was more money involved, and that changes everything in life, doesn’t it?"

Read more: 'Knowing I was valued is biggest factor in not retiring' says Mark Cavendish

Speeds, science, and strength

Cavendish started his career as a stagiaire on the T-Mobile team in 2006, turning fully professional in 2007 and wasting little time in setting in motion a win tally that now stands at over 150.

Having utterly dominated sprinting for several years, Cavendish encountered difficult times following his extraordinary 2016 campaign, as Epstein Barr Virus and depression held him back, but he made an even-more extraordinary comeback at the 2021 Tour de France, where four stage wins gave him the shared record of 34 alongside Eddy Merckx.

Now, at 38 years of age, he’s eyeing that 35th as he embarks on one final season of a career that has spanned multiple generations and eras.

Read more: Mark Cavendish says Astana lead-out 'over-eager but learning' after first UAE Tour sprint

“In terms of sporting side, there were teams that came along. Sky came along and instead of it being slow then fast - there were two speeds - there was one constant tempo, and it changed the demographic of riders. You had to be able to sustain a high tempo the whole day,” Cavendish said.

“Science came in, data was able to be analysed, and riders were no longer picked on if they could win races or not; it was on how strong they were. That changed things a bit then because there were only a couple of riders who could win races, and now everyone is strong.

“It has kind of gone full circle, it’s just that the level’s gone higher because of that. I’m lucky I’ve been able to adapt to that and see it. But it’s worlds apart from when I started, that’s for sure.”

The GCN interview features the full comments on retirement, as well as Cavendish’s reflections on the toughest rival he's faced, the best lead-out man he’s had, and a masterstroke piece of advice from Bradley Wiggins. It’s available to watch in full above.