Sir Mark Cavendish knighted at Windsor Castle
Cyclist Sir Mark Cavendish praises Prince William after knighthood ceremony
Cyclist Sir Mark Cavendish has lauded Prince William after being awarded a knighthood at Windsor Castle. The 39-year-old confessed to feeling “really nervous” before the ceremony but said the Prince of Wales eased his nerves, conversing with him about his career.
Regarding his future in cycling, Sir Mark mentioned he still has some races left this year. “I’m still training for them,” he stated, adding it would be “really nice to race as a Knight Commander.” He concluded this season with his 35th career Tour de France stage win, a record, in what he hinted might be his final race. Despite mixed messages about future races, Sir Mark reiterated he would not participate in the Tour de France again, a race he has never won overall. “That’s public knowledge, I won’t do another Tour de France,” he confirmed.
Upon receiving his knighthood, Sir Mark shared that he and Prince William discussed cycling, which he found “very nice.” He recalled their last meeting at the Tour de France in Yorkshire, where he had a crash at the end of the stage. “He asked me if I was doing anything else up there and talked about my career,” Sir Mark recounted. He described the knighthood experience as “humbling” and expressed immense pride in representing his country. “It’s wonderful. I’m just a lad from the Isle of Man, to be a Knight Commander, that’s not something I could ever have dreamed of,” he said.
Cyclist Sir Mark Cavendish with his wife Peta after being made Knight Commander of the British Empire during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
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Speaking about his children, he humorously mentioned that one of his sons thinks he will be walking around in armour. “They’re very proud,” he added. Sir Mark has achieved 165 career victories on the road, including the 2011 world title, stages of all three Grand Tours, and Milan-Sanremo in 2009. He also secured a silver medal in the omnium at the 2016 Olympics. “I am very fortunate to have got to do what I love for so many years and to see other people inspired by that and riding bikes themselves,” he said. He highlighted the growth of cycling in the country and the joy of being part of its success, stating, “it’s incredibly rewarding to be part of that and to know that it’s something you can be honoured for.”
Other sports figures honoured at Windsor Castle included former England Lioness Karen Carney, ex-international rugby referee Wayne Barnes, and former Scotland footballer Ally McCoist, who all received OBEs from Prince William. Welsh football referee Cheryl Foster was made an MBE.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Yahoo News reports Sir Mark Cavendish finds racing as a Knight Commander “really nice” after receiving a knighthood at Windsor Castle, reflecting on his cycling career and new honor.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What did Mark Cavendish say about Prince William?
Cavendish praised Prince William as ‘superb’ and said he put him at ease during the knighthood ceremony.
Is Mark Cavendish retiring from cycling?
Cavendish said he won’t do another Tour de France but is still training for other races this year.
How did Mark Cavendish feel about receiving his knighthood?
Cavendish described the experience as ‘humbling’ and said he was ‘incredibly proud’ to represent his country.
How many career victories does Mark Cavendish have?
Mark Cavendish has registered 165 career victories on the road.
What other sports stars received honors at Windsor Castle?
Karen Carney, Wayne Barnes, Ally McCoist, and Cheryl Foster also received honors.
