The name of this cyclist in England is no less popular than the names of the most famous football players. The athlete’s career was developing rapidly, and thanks to his success in many bike tours, he rightfully occupies the first position in the world ranking. The hero of our article is Mark Cavendish, a cyclist from the Isle of Man. What was his path to the heights of cycling?
Athlete Biography
Isle of Man, May 21, 1985 is the birthplace and date of birth of one of Britain's most titled cyclists. Cavendish Mark Simon (athlete's full name) from early childhood knew that he would be engaged in cycling, because on the Isle of Man this particular sport is one of the most popular. His first bike was BMX, later, at his thirteenth birthday, he will receive a mountain bike from his parents as a gift and will be happy to do it too.
The decisive factor in the career of the future champion can be considered a meeting with the famous British cyclist Millar, who took part in the cycling race held on the Isle of Man.
Mark Cavendish clearly defined for himself that he wants to be a professional cyclist, so he decided to earn some money at first and worked hard at the local bank for two years.
The beginning of a sports career
With such an obsession, few people can go to achieve their goal, as Cavendish did, so some in the end become champions admired by many fans, while others remain unknown to amateur athletes. Mark Cavendish, whose career was developing on an increasing basis, first won well-deserved gold paired with Rob Hales, performing in Los Angeles in 2005. The pair, who had never performed together before these competitions, became madison champions, ahead of the closest pursuers (the Norwegian team) by almost a whole circle.
The same year also brings victory in the spectacle race at the European Championship (cycle track). 2006, the games of the British Commonwealth of Nations, held on the Isle of Man, and again a gold medal in the race with a common start. Next was the Berlin Tour, which brought the leader's green jersey, and the equally successful Britain Tour and, as a result, the signing of the contract on a professional basis.
Cavendish in professional sports
After completing a two-year contract with the Team High Road team, Mark Cavendish completely switches to professional sports and begins to slowly select the leaders in these competitions.
This is not to say that the first season in the new team for him was one hundred percent successful, there were also failures, but Mark was not used to retreat, and the result of his strong character was the Belgian race, which brought him such a necessary victory (Grote Scheldeprijs). The following competitions, Vuelta of Catalonia and Four days of Dunkirk, showed that the athlete was slowly gaining the optimal form (victory in points and two stages of cycling). These successes did not go unnoticed, and Mark is selected among the lucky ones of his team who will take part in the Tour de France in 2007.
Mark Cavendish did not conduct the first two stages of these prestigious competitions, having allowed himself to leave the race, but already in the next stages he made him seriously draw attention to himself. He managed to repeat the record of another famous cyclist Alessandro Petacchi and win in the debut season in 11 stages.
Rapid take-off
The year 2008 brings Mark victory in the most prestigious tours - the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, and he becomes the first rider in the UK who manages to win in four stages of one round.
Cavendish Mark (photo of an athlete no longer comes from the front pages of sports publications in Britain) skillfully combines his participation in professional tours with competitions on a cycle track. The World Championships held in Manchester bring him and his teammate Bradley Wiggins gold medals in Madison. For the sake of the upcoming Beijing Olympics, Mark even withdraws from tours that took place in the Austrian highlands so as not to risk it. Unfortunately, in Beijing this pair was not able to enter the top three winners in the Madison competition.
The following seasons bring Mark victory in several stages of various rounds, victory in spectacle races. According to mechanics, Mark Cavendish is very meticulous in choosing the technical equipment for his bike. When other racers, having prepared the car for the season, rarely return to small finishing touches, he does not leave the bike even in between tours, personally controlling the entire preparation process.
The Order of the British Empire, received in 2011 from the hands of Queen Elizabeth II herself, was an award to the athlete for his contribution to the development of cycling in the UK. In the same year, the rider became the best athlete of the year according to the Air Force.
Rio de Janeiro
To participate in the 2016 Olympics, Marc Cavendish is removed from the Tour de France stage and is fully committed to preparing for these competitions. His silver award in the omnium became the subject of hype in the press. Some even accused the athlete of a deliberate accident, as a result of which his main rival Park San Hong was unable to continue the competition due to injury.
The nickname that Mark Cavendish received from his fans (Mans Express) is fully justified. After all, this cyclist is the fastest sprinter in the world.
Mark Cavendish - personal life
The wife of the famous cyclist was model Pet Todd, with whom he married in 2013, although the first child appeared with this couple a year earlier. It was a daughter named Delaila Grace. In 2015, the son of Frey David is born into the family. We can say that the personal life of the rider is developing quite successfully.