Michael Mørkøv will retire from skilled biking on the finish of 2024 after an illustrious profession noticed him turn into Olympic and World Champion on the observe, alongside being probably the greatest lead-out riders of all time.
The Dane introduced the information this morning by commerce crew Astana Qazaqstan, the place he has spent his remaining 12 months with Mark Cavendish and performed a giant half within the Manxman’s record-breaking thirty fifth Tour de France victory on stage 5.
Mørkøv, 39, began his WorldTour profession with Saxo Bank in 2009 and went on to experience for Katusha and a number of iterations of Patrick Lefevere’s QuickStep groups by 2018 to 2023 the place he helped the likes of Elia Viviani, Sam Bennett, Fabio Jakobsen and Cavendish to a number of wins as lead-out.
He additionally had nice success on the observe, the place alongside Alex Rasmussen first after which Lasse Norman Hansen later in his profession, he managed three Madison world titles and Olympic Gold in the identical occasion.
“Hello, all biking mates. I wish to share with you that I’ve determined that this 12 months 2024 will likely be my final 12 months as an expert bike rider,” mentioned Mørkøv in a video released by Astana.
“I’m very happy with what I’ve achieved as a observe bicycle owner, as a street bicycle owner, being part of the most important races on this planet, being part of a number of the greatest groups as nicely. Being surrounded by nice teammates and I’ve made numerous friendships through the years.”
Mørkøv, generally known as one essentially the most seasoned professionals within the bunch and an actual arduous employee, believes he maximised each little bit of potential he had all through his 16 years on the highest degree.
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“I’m very happy with what I obtained out of my expertise, to be sincere,” he mentioned. “I used to be by no means essentially the most proficient rider as a younger rider, however I actually managed to work actually arduous, and I really feel I achieved all what I might obtain.”
On the street, Mørkøv additionally had particular person success as a three-time Danish nationwide champion and Vuelta a España stage winner, which he took in dramatic trend on stage 6 of the 2013 race when the sprinting bunch reeled in a late Tony Martin assault simply 50 metres from the road in Cáceres.
But his success with Cavendish has been the spotlight in recent times, not solely piloting the veteran sprinter to Tour de France wins in 2021 and 2024 but in addition being his right-hand man in battling time cuts and chasing on behind the race to maintain him in it.
With ‘Project 35’ achieved, Mørkøv and Cavendish’s remaining Tour has already been successful, main the Dane to name it essentially the most fulfilling of his 9 participations but.
“I’ve to say that I’ve loved this Tour way more than every other Tour as a result of I actually attempt to soak all the pieces to me – the expertise with Cav, taking an early choice, it simply makes me take pleasure in this season quite a bit,” mentioned Mørkøv, who additionally gave huge reward to his spouse and household.
“Especially my household is, in fact, actually proud of my choice. My son is a bit unhappy as a result of he likes to have a cool dad, and he is afraid that his dad is just not so cool when he is not a motorcycle rider anymore,” mentioned the Dane.
“I’ve to thank my spouse 1000s of occasions, however I can’t thank her sufficient, really, for making it potential for me to be an expert bike rider and have a household and children on the similar time.”
Mørkøv will experience his remaining races on residence roads and residential boards on the finish of the season however for now, he’s nonetheless obtained ambitions to realize in 2024, notably extra success with Cavendish on the Tour, observe worlds in Ballerup, Denmark and the Paris Olympics the place he’ll experience observe and the street race with Mattias Skjelmose, Mikkel Bjerg and Mads Pedersen.
“Of course, I’ve numerous huge objectives to realize nonetheless on this Tour de France, on the Olympic Games, on the World Championships on the observe in Ballerup in October,” Mørkøv concluded. “But possibly it’s going to solely be at my final race in Copenhagen that it’ll strike me that now it’s going to actually be the final time that I pin on my numbers.”