As the professional cycling transfer window has begun to draw to a close, one rider is notably currently short of a ride for the 2023 season. Mark Cavendish.
There has been stacks of reports as to where the joint Tour de France stage win’s record holder may find himself next season.
He had been heavily linked to the French Proteam B & B Hotels-KTM throughout the autumn and winter. Team management at B & B repeatedly stated throughout the off-season that Cavendish was set to join the French squad as a team leader. However, planned big money sponsorship for B & B never materialised, with the announcement coming last week that they have now collapsed.
With the news of B & B’s demise, questions have even been asked if that’s now it for the Manxman with his stunning second victory in the British national road championships being his final act in the sport.
In the meantime, Trek-Segafredo have become one of several high-profile WorldTour teams to rule out a late move for Cavendish, with general manager Luca Guercilena explaining that the team plan to continue to focus on younger talent in the years to come.
Cavendish has also been linked to the American ProTeam Human Powered Health in a report by WielerFlits (opens in new tab). However, a surprise move to the American squad wouldn’t essentially guarantee Cavendish a return to the Tour in 2023.
Human Powered Health have yet to comment on the matter.
Even if the move to the American team doesn’t materialise, all is not lost, with several squads still without a sprinter for the coming season meaning that there’s time for a late move yet.
Here at Cycling Weekly, we look at where the Manxman could find himself next.
INEOS GRENADIERS
(Image credit: Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
With all of Ineos’ firepower being aimed at Grand Tour success in recent years, you could argue that any link with Cavendish is merely a wild rumour.
However, he rode for the team, then Team Sky, when they enjoyed a boom of victories, and would mark a return to the glory days that saw Bradley Wiggins land 2012 Tour victory.
Geraint Thomas took a fine third place at the Tour this year for Britain’s only WorldTour level squad. However, Thomas has publicly stated that with the Giro d’Italia route featuring more than 70 kilometres of time trialling next season, he will head to Italy.
With Thomas likely out of the Tour team as a result, that would only leave Egan Bernal or riders like Dani Martinez as…