Cycling: Mark Cavendish is undoubtedly one of the riders of the season. But the Briton hasn't found a team for next year. This applies to many other well-known drivers. But the teams for 2022 hardly have any places left.
Cavendish is not staying with Quick-Step
He has won 34 stages in the Tour de France, putting him on a par with Eddy Merckx. record holder Mark Cavendish has made a grandiose comeback in professional cycling in 2021. Despite this, he still hasn't found a team for the coming season. Deceuninck - Quick-Step did not want to extend his contract. At the end of November it will probably be difficult to find another WorldTour team. After all, the Briton is already 36 years old. Is he about to end his career? Hardly likely! It is likely that he will find a place with a second division and is hoping for a wildcard for the big races. Without his blue train from the Quick-Step – Alpha Vinyl team (as the team will be called next year), another stage win in the Tour de France is unlikely.
Burghardt & Pfingsten still without a team
Not only Mark Cavendish has been waiting for weeks or even months for a contract that he would like to sign. The two Germans too Marcus Burghardt (Bora – hansgrohe) and Christopher Pentecost (Jumbo – Visma) have not yet found a new employer. At 38 and 33, respectively, they are also at an advanced professional age. The same goes for top riders Maximiliano Richeze (UAE), Domenico Pozzovivo (Qhubeka – NextHash) and Mikel Nieve (BikeExchange). The examples of Mark Padun (Bahrain - Victorious) and Jonathan Caicedo (EF - Nippo) show that this can also happen to younger drivers. They are also waiting for a lucrative offer. Incidentally, Davide Rebellin would also like to continue his career. Yes, you heard that right: the Italian is still active as a professional cyclist. Now 50 years old, he still doesn't want to give up his bike. In 1988 he drove his first world championship. That was 10 years before current Tour winner Tadej Pogacar was born.
Mauro Schmid changes to Quick-Step
Found a new team Mauro Schmid. The Swiss is leaving the Qhubeka - NextHash racing team for Quick-Step - Alpha Vinyl. He probably convinced the Belgian team above all with his stage win at this year's Giro d'Italia. There he left all the riders behind on the hard gravel stage to Montalcino. A great future is prophesied for the 21-year-old. And with Quick-Step he has now found a strong home for it.
In May, he made the headlines when he won the famous Giro d'Italia gravel stage in Montalcino.
Now, he signed a contract with the Wolfpack!
Read more about him and join us in giving a warm welcome to 21-year-old Swiss @mauro_schmid: https://t.co/BmqPMlFf9q pic.twitter.com/GefBTZJaRY
- Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) November 11, 2021