Mark Cavendish, one of Britain’s greatest cyclists, will retire at the end of the season.

At the Giro d’Italia press conference, Cavendish, 38, said: “Cycling has been my life for over 25 years.

“It has taught me a lot about life, dedication, loyalty, dedication and perseverance – all things that need to be given now as a father.”

He added: “This bike has given me the opportunity to see the world, meet amazing people both in and out of the sport – many of whom I call friends.

“Today is my son Casper’s fifth birthday; it’s a day off and I can be with him now. Now it’s important to be there for every birthday, every school concert – it’s important I can be there.”

A brilliant work with a fairytale ending

Cavendish had a glittering racing career, winning the fastest races, especially in the Grand Tours.

He has won 161 races since 2005 and two green jerseys on the Tour.

Cavendish’s other achievements include an omnium silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the rainbow jersey at the 2011 Road World Championships, the 2009 Milano-San Remo one-day ‘monument’, 16 stage wins in the Giro and three in the Vuelta a Espana. .

He is currently riding for Astana Qazaqstan in the Giro, which ends in Rome on Sunday.

Cavendish has been plagued by injury and illness since 2017, hinting at the end of the 2020 season as a possible retirement.

But when he returned to form the following year he won another four rounds and the green jersey in his second game with the successful team Quick Step, who helped to strengthen his career.

Cavendish and his family were victims of a violent robbery home in 2021.

He was dropped from Quick Step’s Tour team the following year, after which he signed with Astana Qazaqstan for 2023.

He will be looking to break the record for this year’s championship, which will begin in Bilbao, Spain, on July 1.

The Manx Missile

Cavendish, from the Isle of Man, showed promise as a BMX and mountain biker, and was part of a new era of funding for British cycling, which saw British Cycling dominate the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Cavendish began his professional career in 2005 in the T-Mobile feeder team, winning his first Tour in 2008 for Team Columbia.

He was known throughout his career as the ‘Manx Missile’ due to his speed at the end of the game.

At 5ft 7in, he has a very low center of gravity and can have the best position on the bike during a burst of power.

Cavendish dominated sprinting for years and is considered a major influence on younger riders across the peloton, including new British talent such as Ethan Vernon’s Quick Step.

Cavendish is known to have the occasional fiery man on the bike, and during the 2021 Tour he was filmed berating the team mechanic before the race.

Former Quick Step coach Tom Steels told BBC Sport last year: “When he gets off the team bus you never know if he’s going to come back five minutes later like a wild cow because there’s something wrong with the bike.

“But you can always talk to him and when it’s over. It won’t be personal, but you never know how he’ll respond.”

Cavendish is very popular in the peloton and fiercely defends fellow riders who come up for challenge.

He hinted at the end of his career last year when he told BBC Sport: “I want to be a father and a man more than when I’m on the road – I’ll be at home, doing normal things and being honest. The kids grow up.”