It's official, Mark Cavendish will race for Bahrain-Merida, say sources
The Manxman is expected to be unveiled by his new team next week

Mark Cavendish, winner of 30 Tour de France stages, will race for Team Bahrain-Merida in 2020, according to sources who are familiar with the deal.
The sources contacted believe Bahrain-Merida will announce Cavendish as their new rider next week, along with the official appointment of Rod Ellingworth as team principal.
>>> Chris Froome will be back in action next month at Saitama Criterium
One insider at the team says Ellingworth officially begins work on October 1, though it is clear he has already been working in the background, hiring riders like Wout Poels from Ineos as well as Cavendish.
"It's official, Cavendish is racing for Bahrain-Merida next year," a source contacted by Cycling Weekly said. "They are waiting to announce it, but the deal is done."
Cavendish will leave Dimension Data after four years, which included four Tour de France stage wins to bring his tally up to 30. However, he has suffered these last few years due to crashes as well as contracting the Epstein-Barr virus. Dimension Data boss Doug Ryder then decided to leave Cavendish out of their Tour de France squad for 2019, the first time he has not raced the French Grand Tour since his debut in 2007.
Cavendish once pulled in six Tour stage wins in 2009 and his goal had been to equal and pass the record of 34 stage wins by Eddy Merckx.
Ellingworth previously coached Cavendish in the British Cycling Academy and as a professional when Cavendish raced for T-Mobile/HTC-Highroad. The pair teamed up once more in the year Cavendish wore the rainbow bands when he rode for Sky in 2012. Bahrain-Merida's new team principal will have faith he can get Cavendish back to his previous best for the 2020 season.
British motorsport giant McLaren is now a 50% partner in the Bahraini outfit, and the team will welcome the publicity that only a few riders like Cavendish can bring to a team. Exactly how he will fit into the roster when the new season rolls around remains to be seen, with the squad taking on Wout Poels and Mikel Landa to compete for general classifications while also already counting sprinters such as Sonny Colbrelli among their ranks.
One insider contacted for this article believes Cavendish's long-time helper Bernie Eisel will not make the switch from Dimension Data but instead retire. Eisel, winner of Ghent-Wevelgem in 2010, had to have brain surgery after a crash in 2018 but has successfully returned to racing. Cavendish's other long-term lieutenant Mark Renshaw recently retired following the Tour of Britain.
The 2020 season could be Cavendish's last, and sources believe he has signed a one-year deal, targeting a return to the Tour de France and the 2020 Olympics.
Bahrain-Merida was not immediately available for comment.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
‘Moments to live and remember’: Roglič set to win the pink jersey after winning extraordinary penultimate stage of the Giro d’Italia
Thomas loses the pink jersey to Slovenian by just 14 seconds
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
The best Memorial Day deals for cyclists
Memorial Day is coming up in the United States. We've rounded up the best Memorial Day deals for cyclists including bikes, apparel, gear and accessories.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
‘He’s the greatest sprinter of all time’ - Geraint Thomas pays tribute to retiring Mark Cavendish
During Monday’s second rest day at the Giro d’Italia, Cavendish announced he would retire from professional cycling at the end of the current season
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I’ve lived an absolute dream' - Mark Cavendish confirms he will retire at the end of the season
'It’s the perfect time to say 2023 will be my final season' - British sprinter explains retirement decision on second Giro d’Italia rest day
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tweets of the week: Special guests at the Giro, Carthy does a wizard impression and Cavendish gets a new sprint train
Taking a look through the best of cycling social media in the last week
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Mark Cavendish ‘hungry’ to land first win of the season at Giro d’Italia
British rider is one of several options for Astana at Italian Grand Tour as they go in search of stage wins
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Complete Giro d'Italia 2023 start list: Who is still in the Grand Tour three days in?
There has not been one abandonment so far in this year's Giro, here's the complete start list
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
Mark Cavendish takes 'positives' from record-breaking podium at Scheldeprijs
The Astana-Qazaqstan rider says he will "normally" go to the Giro d'Italia next month
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish takes third at Scheldeprijs, in best result for Astana Qazaqstan
Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck took the win, with DSM’s Sam Welsford grabbing second
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Signing of Mark Cavendish leads to end of Scicon's Astana Qazaqstan sponsorship
Cavendish along with several other teammates currently wearing Oakley sunglasses during competition
By Tom Thewlis • Published