CYCLING legend Mark Cavendish will retire from the sport at the end of the season.

He won 34 stages at the Tour de France, putting him first on the all-time list tied with Eddy Merckx.

Cavendish announced the news during a press conference at the Giro d'Italia, saying: "Cycling has been my life for over 25 years.

"I've absolutely loved racing every kilometre of this race so far, so I feel it's the perfect time to say it's my final Giro d'Italia and 2023 will be my final season as a professional cyclist.

"It's taught me so much about life, dedication, loyalty, sacrifice and perseverance – all important things to pass on now as a father."

The 38-year-old has enjoyed an exceptional career, winning 161 races since he began in 2005.

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Cavendish has also clinched point classification successes in all three majors, at the Vuelta a Espana in 2010, the Giro d'Italia in 2013, and at two Tour de Frances in both 2013 and 2021.

The sprint specialist's other big achievements came when he became the world road champion in 2011 and when the Isle of Man-born hero won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the omnium.

His talents earned him the nickname the Manx Missile.

Cavendish currently represents team Astana Qazaqstan after leaving Deceuninck-Quick-Step after missing out on the Tour de France last year.

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And he will attempt to break the Tour stage win record at the Quick Step race in Bilbao on July 1 before his career ends in six months time.

Cavendish's retirement comes after a sensational comeback from illness and injury in 2017, hinting at stepping off the bike for good in 2020.

His family have also battled through being the victims of a violet robbery two years ago.

British Cycling performance director Stephen Park put out a touching farewell to him, saying: "Cav is without doubt the sport's greatest sprinter and will be remembered by fans across the world for his 53 grand tour stage wins.

"And I'm sure that we will all be cheering him on as he looks to add to that total in his final months of racing.

"From a Great Britain Cycling Team perspective, we have seen him win rainbow jerseys on both the road and the track, a silver medal at the Rio Olympic Games, and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year title in 2011.

"What most stands out in Cav as a sportsperson is the overwhelming sense of pride he showed each time he pulled on both the Great Britain Cycling Team and British national champion's jerseys – a quality we want to instil in every single member of our team."

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