Mark Cavendish: Astana Qazaqstan presents 'perfect opportunity' to win sprints as Tour de France bid looms

Mark Cavendish has branded new team Astana Qazaqstan the “perfect opportunity” as he seeks to return to the top of cycling aged 37. Cavendish’s move to the Kazakh-based outfit in January came about after he departed Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, where he won four more stages at the Tour de France in 2021 to tie the all-time record, only to be snubbed the following year. Ad Speaking in an exclusive interview with Eurosport’s Adam Blythe, Cavendish said he was excited to be part of Astana’s transition to sprints, with the team previously forging their reputation on general classification bids at Grand Tours.

Tour de FranceExclusive: 'It’s above the sport' – Cavendish opens up on 'special' Tour de France7 HOURS AGO “Me coming to Astana, I don’t just want a job. If things aren’t right it’s not going to happen,” said Cavendish. “Astana’s the perfect opportunity to win in sprints.

It’s something the team hasn’t done before, but my god, they’ve got the capacity to do it. It’s really exciting.” Astana have won the GC at all three Grand Tours – including triumphs at the Tour de France for Alberto Contador (2009) and Vincenzo Nibali (2014) – but the team now lacks a stamina superstar after Nibali’s retirement and Miguel Angel Lopez’s dismissal due to alleged connections to a doctor under investigation for doping. That prompted a late move for Cavendish, who is joined in the Astana ranks by Dutch speedster Cees Bol.

Despite the team’s inexperience in sprints, Cavendish is already thrilled at how his new team-mates have adapted to the new challenge. The Manx Missile is currently competing at the UAE Tour, having had his first sprint outing at the Tour of Oman earlier in February. Exclusive: 'It’s above the sport' – Cavendish opens up on