Sir Mark Cavendish, the most prolific British sprinter in the history of the Tour de France, has been awarded the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award. This distinction rewards an exceptional career marked by 35 stage victories on the Grande Boucle, a world road title and numerous other successes (165 in total). Despite difficult times, including injuries and depression, Cavendish always bounced back and finished his career on a high note. This award is well-deserved recognition for a rider who has left his mark on the history of cycling and who has inspired generations of cyclists.
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British cycling legend Sir Mark Cavendish has been honored with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award for his lifetime achievement. The Manx Missile, 39, retired this year after making history with 35 stage victories on the Tour de France, the last of which Saint-Vulbas in July. In total, Cavendish won 165 professional races and crowned his career with a victory in Tour de France Criterium in Singapore in November.
« It’s incredible, a true honor,” said Cavendish upon receiving his award. “ I rode for 20 years and gave it my all. Receiving this award is something very special. » Cavendish’s record is impressive: a title world on road in 2011, 17 stages of the Giro, 3 stages of the Vuelta and several track titles, including Olympic silver in 2016 et three world titles in madison.
After a promising start in BMX and mountain biking, he joined the British cycling team before making his professional debut in 2005. In 2008, he won his first stage of the Tour de France with the Columbia team. Despite injuries, illnesses and difficult years, Cavendish was able to return to the top. In 2021, he picks up 4 additional victories on the Tour, whose green jersey. His last Tour in 2023 ended prematurely after an accident, but he made history by breaking the record stage victories from Eddy Merckx to Saint-Vulbas. He closed his career with a victory in Singapore in November.
In 2011, Cavendish had already won the title of BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
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