Opinion: Mark Cavendish and Astana have what it takes to win one more stage at the Tour de France

Astana and Cavendish must look to replicate 2023 Giro success to build form ready for July

Mark Cavendish wins stage 21 of the 2023 Giro d'Italia
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The cat is finally out of the bag, with Mark Cavendish agreeing a contract extension at Astana Qazaqstan and deciding to continue racing in 2024.

His main aim is - as expected - to have one final crack at the Tour de France stage win record, which he currently holds jointly with Eddy Merckx on 34. With the form he has displayed at times this year, it’s possible to imagine him winning far more than just another Tour stage next summer.

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Tom Thewlis
News and Features Writer

After previously working in higher education, Tom joined Cycling Weekly in 2022 and hasn't looked back. He's been covering professional cycling ever since; reporting on the ground from some of the sport's biggest races and events, including the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix and the World Championships. His earliest memory of a bike race is watching the Tour on holiday in the early 2000's in the south of France - he even made it on to the podium in Pau afterwards. His favourite place that cycling has taken him is Montréal in Canada.