Mark Cavendish

Sir Mark Simon Cavendish KBE, born on May 21, 1985, is a distinguished professional road racing cyclist from the Isle of Man, currently competing with the UCI WorldTeam Astana Qazaqstan Team. Renowned for his prowess as a sprinter, Cavendish has etched his name in cycling history as one of the sport's greatest road sprinters. In 2021, Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France, referred to him as "the greatest sprinter in the history of the Tour and of cycling." Cavendish holds the unparalleled record of 35 stage victories at the Tour de France, achieved over 15 editions spanning from 2008 to 2024.

Cavendish began his athletic journey in track cycling, where he clinched gold medals in the madison at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 2005 and 2008 alongside Rob Hayles and Bradley Wiggins. He also secured a gold in the scratch race at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Though he faced disappointment at the 2008 Olympics, he returned to the track in 2015, ultimately winning another madison title in 2016 and a silver in the omnium at that year's Olympics.

Turning professional in 2005, Cavendish quickly made his mark with eleven wins in his debut season. He became the second British rider to win the men’s road race at the 2011 Road World Championships and has achieved the points classification in all three Grand Tours. His illustrious career includes winning four stages in the 2021 Tour de France and, in 2024, he broke the all-time stage victory record, previously held by Eddy Merckx. Honored with an MBE in 2011 and a KBE in 2024 for his contributions to cycling and charitable endeavors, Cavendish continues to inspire future generations of cyclists.