Cycling: Cavendish confirmed in Astana Tour de France lineup

Manxman with another chance to break stage wins record

Sir Mark Cavendish will begin his latest charge to make cycling history later this week at the 2024 Tour de France.

The 'Manx Missile' has now been confirmed in Astana Qazaqstan's eight-strong squad taking on the prestigious grand tour for 2024 which starts on Saturday (29 June) and runs through until 21 July.

He's currently the joint all-time Tour de France stage wins record holder on 34 victories alongside cycling legend Eddie Merckx.

Cavendish was forced to withdraw from the tour part-way through last year's event because of injuries sustained in a crash on stage eight.

That incident in 2023 came after the now 39-year-old initially announced plans to retire from the sport at the end of last season.

However a few months later in October last year he confirmed a delay to his retirement to continue with Astana Qazaqstan for the 2024 campaign.

Separately this month Sir Mark was knighted in the King's Birthday Honours List, being made a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) for his services to cycling, his charity work and efforts as a sporting ambassador for the UK and Isle of Man.

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