Cavendish open to career switch after retirement: "I don’t associate my name with just anyone"

He had to dig deep and wait a while, but on July 3 last year, Cavendish finally managed to add a 35th stage victory in the Tour to his tally. That put the British rider in the history books as the rider with the most victories in the Tour de France. It would be the last victory in the impressive career of the sprinter, who celebrated his 40th birthday on Wednesday.

"I've never really cared much about my birthday because I've always been racing or training," Cavendish told Het Nieuwsblad about his 'new life.' "It's only since the birth of Casper (his son, ed.) that I've started to celebrate my birthday a little more consciously. In the life of a cyclist, you don't have time for that." So Cav enjoyed his birthday to the fullest. "He ate well without feeling guilty about anything," his wife, Peta Todd, said.

It has been almost a year since the 'Manx Missile' said goodbye to professional cycling, considerably changing the sprinter's life. "I have much more time for my family. I was racing or at a training camp for the past twenty years. But now I could take the time to celebrate Cas's birthday (his other son, ed.). He turned seven on Thursday."

No matter how much time he can spend with his family, Cavendish definitely misses parts of cycling. "Being on the road with the boys, for example. After all, it's been my life for more than twenty years. So it's only natural that you get attached to certain things." Cav also looked at the new final stage of the Tour. "When I hear that they are also changing the route here on the Champs Elysées with that climb up Montmartre, I'm glad I'm no longer a rider. If you ask me now who my favorite sprinter is for the first Tour stage in Lille, with the yellow jersey to go with it, I'd have to say I don't know. Merlier, Philipsen, Milan...," Cavendish shrugs.

As mentioned earlier, Cavendish symbolizes a new partnership between the organizer of the Tour de France and Airbnb. On this online platform, people can rent private accommodations, such as rooms, apartments, or entire houses, to travelers. It's a company where he sees himself as an ambassador. "I don’t associate my name with just anyone," Cavendish says of the collaboration. "As cyclists, we too often sleep in impersonal hotels where you don't really connect with anyone. There's nothing better than arriving at a home. Honestly, Peta and I are considering opening up our own home someday. Why not? As a journalist, you can also follow the Tour via Airbnb. It's all about creating experiences."