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Abu Dhabi (VN) – Mark Cavendish Sunday felt no thorny issues.
Manx hit back at questions about the implosion of the B&B Hotels team and, after being asked about the trip to the uaeNext week’s Super Bowl of Sprinters.
When the B&B Hotels project, which Cavendish was due to join in 2023, fell apart in December, “no” was Cavendish’s only answer when asked if he was worried about his career.
Cavendish was reportedly poised to be at the center of this year’s B&B team roster, but instead he became one of many racers after sponsors withdrew their bids.
Cavendish, now firmly signed to Astana-Kazakhstan, is in no mood to talk about his tumultuous offseason. During that time, he was also forced to relive the horrific 2021 armed robbery case, which was eventually brought before a British court.
With the 37-year-old out of contract and without a future team, months of drama still appeared to be a sore spot on Sunday.
“They’re all fine thank you, how’s yours? Mine’s fine,” Cavendish quipped when asked about his experience in recent months.
Also read: Cavendish moves to Astana – Kazakhstan: ‘Life taught me to keep going’
Cavendish made his WorldTour debut for Astana-Kazakhstan on the UAE Tour after the Kazakhstan team threw a life raft at him and a chance to claim a record-breaking 35th Tour victory.
Cavendish has emerged as one of a long line of fine quick finishers at the Emirates. Dylan Gronewegen, Sam Bennett, Tim Merlier and Caleb Ewan are among the standouts in the sprint, with four potentially massive gallops to come over the next week.
when asked Velo News Cavendish deftly sidesteps the importance of the UAE race for early-season confidence and motivation in the tumultuous world of sprinting.
“We’re here because it’s a good opportunity to hone how to play in the finals”
Answering questions from UAE Tour organizers and local dignitaries, Cavendish seemed more like Sunday.
“This race is always important, especially for the sprinters. In terms of all the sprinters in one place at once, there is no other place in the world,” Cavendish told UAE Tour officials at Sunday’s meeting. “As sprinters and as a team, it was important for us to start racing earlier in the year.”
Teams like Jayco AlUla and Bora-Hansgrohe have dialed up the lead train through early season games ahead of the Emirates Royal Rumble.
However, Cavendish only started his season on the Tour of Oman earlier this month and is without leader Cees Bol.
Bol will partner Cavendish for the first time next week and all eyes will be on what the Astana Sprint Team can offer in this rare turn of events in GC racing.
“I changed teams this year, which is relatively new to the sprint world,” Cavendish said. “But we’re here because it’s a good opportunity to hone how to ride in a group sprint final. There are wide roads and long flat sections, so it’s a great place to learn.”
Velo News Later, I approached Cavendish for a one-on-one interview, but was interrupted by the team staff.
Cavendish hopes his legs will speak for him next week.