Mark Cavendish reveals details of first race in 2024
Astana Qazaqstan rider will line up at the Tour Colombia after altitude camp in country
Mark Cavendish will begin his 2024 campaign at the Tour Colombia stage race in South America next February.
In a brief video released on the Colombian cycling federation’s X account, Cavendish confirmed that he would take part and make his debut in the six day stage race.
“Hola amigos, I’m so excited to spend my first time in Colombia at the Tour of Colombia next year,” Cavendish said. “It’s one of Latin America’s biggest races, so come and see us, February 6th-11th in a country that’s produced some incredible bike riders.”
Cavendish is currently at the Astana Qazaqstan winter training camp in southern Spain. The 38-year-old was due to retire at the end of last season.
However, the Manxman confirmed in October that he would ride on for one more year with the aim of becoming the record holder for the most stage wins at the Tour de France. Cavendish is currently tied on 34 with Eddy Merckx.
Cavendish was on the cusp of taking the record this year although crashed out of the race on stage eight on the road to Limoges.
The Tour Colombia is making its return to the cycling calendar next year after an absence of four years. It will begin in the town of Paipa in Boyaca on 6 February before wrapping up in Bogotá several days later on 11 February.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cavendish was recently joined at Astana by his former Quick-Step coach Vasilis Anastopoulos. The team also brought in Davide Ballerini and Michael Mørkøv to further boost Cavendish’s leadout train and increase their firepower ahead of the Tour next July.
Anastopoulos previously told Cycling Weekly magazine that Cavendish would undergo a training programme in 2024 which focused more on physical preparation as opposed to actual race days.
“My personal idea is that I have proposed to do some more altitude camps and less racing than this year,” he said.
Starting his season in Colombia marks a change in Cavendish’s usual preparations. The Manxman has often got his season underway in the Middle East. This year Cavendish rode the Muscat Classic in Oman prior to taking part in the Tour of Oman before racing the UAE Tour.
@MarkCavendish nos confirma su participación y la del @AstanaQazTeam en el #TourColombia2024¡Welcome to Colombia Mark, nos vemos pronto! 😎🚴♂️🏆 pic.twitter.com/aElnMeA8W2December 14, 2023
Thank you for reading 20 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
Tom joined Cycling Weekly in early 2022 and his news stories, rider interviews and features appear both online and in the magazine.
He has reported from some of professional cycling's biggest races and events including the Tour de France and the recent Glasgow World Championships. He has also covered races elsewhere across the world and interviewed some of the sport's top riders.
When not writing news scoops from the WorldTour, or covering stories from elsewhere in the domestic professional scene, he reports on goings on at bike shops up and down the UK, where he is based when not out on the road at races. He has also appeared on the Radio Cycling podcast.
-
Wout van Aert back on drop bars as he says he’s 'almost professional again' in Strava post
Visma-Lease a Bike rider broke his collarbone, sternum and several ribs in a high speed crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'Ride like you own the road' - Zoe Bäckstedt on Paris-Roubaix Femmes, her Grand Tour debut and her new Red Bull helmet
Bäckstedt recently landed sponsorship from the energy drink giants and joined the likes of Tom Pidcock, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Evie Richards as a Red Bull athlete
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert back on drop bars as he says he’s 'almost professional again' in Strava post
Visma-Lease a Bike rider broke his collarbone, sternum and several ribs in a high speed crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard leaves hospital after Itzulia Basque Country horror crash
Danish rider underwent surgery to repair broken collarbone; too early to know whether Tour de France return will be possible
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Will the Tour de France be won by the last man standing?
With Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič hitting the deck at Itzulia Basque Country, all three now face battle to get their seasons back on track
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tom Pidcock unable to bear weight on right leg after Itzulia Basque Country crash
British rider crashed during recon of opening stage time trial last weekend and injured his right hip
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish to miss Scheldeprijs as illness continues to affect schedule
Cavendish will ride Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye later this month, Astana Qazaqstan confirms
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel not intimidated by Tadej Pogačar’s form ahead of Milan-San Remo clash
Dutchman starts his 2024 road season at Italian Monument on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I pulled it off and turned everything around' - Brandon McNulty on the ride that changed him
US star grabbed his first ever Grand Tour win at last year’s Giro d’Italia
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson, Visma-Lease a Bike’s new star, continues to impress at Paris-Nice
The American could step into the leaders yellow jersey on Tuesday evening after stage three’s team time trial in Auxerre
By Tom Thewlis Published