History-making British cyclist Mark Cavendish said: Sky Sports News “Everything in life has a finish line” after the last Tour de France race.

With victory in Saint-Vulbas, Cavendish achieved his record 35th stage win of his Tour de France career, surpassing Eddy Merckx to become the Belgian’s only stage win in Tour history after three years, reaching 34 stage wins during the 2021 Tour.

Cavendish’s four stage wins in 2021 have been counted as one of the sport’s great comeback stories, bringing him his first Tour win in five years after a period plagued by illness and injury which led to him being diagnosed with depression.

Cavendish has faced further challenges since those victories three years ago, only to sign a last-minute deal with Astana-Qazaqstan ahead of the 2023 season after another transfer collapse, then last year’s Tour ended abruptly on the eighth stage due to a broken collarbone.

Without speaking Sky Sports News “No matter what happens, no matter how bad something is or how bad you think it is, the one thing is you don’t give up. You try. I have five kids and I instill that in them,” Cavendish said in the studio on Tuesday.

“There’s always a finish line. If you treat your life or anything you do as a back race, there’s a finish line.

“Every time you go a little bit further, you get closer to it, and at some point you get there. That’s how I see everything I do.

“You need something to aim for, something to target. For the last three years, there has been one more stage win in the Tour.

“I had an incredible journey with a nation of cycling enthusiasts who were also on this journey with me.”

Cavendish’s first Tour stage win came on the fifth stage, Cholet to Chateauroux, in 2008, and was quickly followed by three more wins in that year’s edition. Since then, Cavendish has gone on to win 10 Tour de France events.

The Briton, who has completed his final season on the Tour, said he felt lucky to be leaving the sport on his own terms.

“I’ve been very lucky to have done everything I’ve wanted to do in sport,” Cavendish added. “There aren’t many people who have the choice to continue or not. I feel very lucky for that.

“Even before I turned professional, I dedicated my life to sports. Now my children ride bikes. Whatever role I take on, I will always be around him.

“I think it’s a tough thing when it’s not in your control. I announced my retirement last year, I had an accident with a broken collarbone and I know I’m lucky to have the opportunity to continue with it.

“It’s something special to still have a goal and wake up every day with something to aim for. I make my living cycling.

“At some point it will be great to look back and think about the results and memories I had in the Tour de France. It’s not just the victories – a lot of it is suffering. You suffer in the mountains to get the opportunity to sprint.

“When I started, nobody was talking about Eddy Merckx winning 34 Tour de France stages because it was not something that was achievable.

“One stage makes up a rider’s entire career. I’m not talking about one stage a year or every few years. I’ve been lucky enough to be part of some incredible teams and we’ve been successful.

“It’s pretty tough. You never really stop, but you never really know what it’s like not to be tired. You always feel like you’ve done work. It’s the same in any endurance sport. But I have the freedom to ride in beautiful places. It can take its toll on your body, that’s for sure.”

Cavendish ‘one of our greatest athletes’

Stephen Park CBE, GB Cycling Team Performance Director, said: “On behalf of British Cycling I would like to congratulate Sir Mark on a truly outstanding achievement.

“It goes without saying that Mark is one of the greatest British drivers of all time and to crown his final season of racing with a victory in the sport’s biggest race is a fitting final chapter to his brilliant career.

“We have been proud to support Mark from his early days at the GB Cycling Team academy to his final days competing in the Tour de France and this is an incredibly special day for the coaches, support staff, fellow cyclists and fans who have played a part in his journey.

“Mark’s long and storied career, passion for the sport and relentless pursuit of excellence make him a real inspiration to future generations of cyclists looking to follow in his footsteps.

“He is truly one of our country’s greatest athletes and sports figures and it has been a privilege to watch him reign at the top for all these years.”

Advertising content | Stream Sky Sports on NOW

Watch Sky Sports live with no contract with a Monthly or Daily subscription NOW. Instant access to live action from football, darts, cricket, F1, tennis, golf, rugby league, rugby union and more.