Legendary British cyclist Mark Cavendish says this year’s Tour de France is likely to have been his last ever race.

The sprinter won a record 35th Tour de France stage in the first week of this year’s edition, going one clear of Belgian Eddy Merckx’s long-standing record – which Cavendish equalled in 2021.

Last year was supposed to be his 14th and final Tour, but he delayed his retirement and signed a contract extension with the Astana Qazaqstan Team until the end of the 2024 season.

Asked after the final stage of this year’s Tour if he had finished his final race Cavendish said “likely so, yes”.

The British 39-year-old is the Tour de France’s greatest sprinter and has also twice won the points classification.

He had feared his career could be over, and battles with illness, injuries and depression contributed to him not winning once during 2019 and 2020.

Left out of the 2022 Tour and seemingly out of contract at the end of that year, he joined Astana Qazaqstan at the last minute for 2023.