Mark Cavendish reflects on remarkable Tour de France comeback, depression, and pedalling for family – not records
- The ‘Manx Missile’ levelled all-time stage win record on Le Tour last year after going winless for three years
- ‘It’s not about being strong, or weak, in the head. It’s an illness’, says Cavendish of mental health and its stigma in sports
Mark Cavendish went from being “the best in the world to one of the worst overnight”, to one of the best again after years of struggling with illness and clinical depression.
Just as the sport collectively prepared to raise a glass to his unparalleled road sprinting career, the 36-year-old miraculously equalled Eddy Merckx’s all-time record of 34 Tour de France stage wins last summer.
The “Manx Missile” may even surpass the 46-year milestone should he earn a spot at Le Tour in July. But he wants you to know records and trophies are but an afterthought.
“To be able to reach the top again was incredible. To fight when more and more people write you off, to then become the best again. It makes it all worthwhile,” Cavendish said in a group interview arranged by Laureus World Sports Award, where he has been nominated for its Comeback of the Year award.
“Nobody aims for records. People aim to just do what they can day by day. Records come from hard work and persistence.
“A record has never really been a target for me. I just want to win what I can and fortunately, I know from winning 34 Tour de France stages, how hard it is to win one.
