After months of speculation, Mark Cavendish's future team in 2023 has finally been determined.

Cavendish could be fighting for a record-breaking 35th Tour de France stage win this summer with a WorldTour team guaranteed a spot in cycling's biggest stage race.

Astana's interest in signing Cavendish began in mid-December when team manager Alexandre Vinokurov admitted to Cyclingnews that he had called Cavendish after the B&B Hotels project fell through.

The 37-year-old Cavendish then traveled to Spain to visit the team's training camp.

On Tuesday afternoon, Cavendish attended the team's latest training camp in Spain, where the team finally announced that the Manxman had joined on a one-year contract.

"I am very excited about this adventure. I have raced with Aleksandr Vinokurov for years and now with his two sons. It reminds me of when they were kids my age and dreamed of being a bike racer," Cavendish said.

"The Astana Kazakstan team will be a great place to succeed with a strong team led by Alexandre, a champion on the bike and a gentleman off the bike. I have already enjoyed a long career, but the joy of riding a bike and the thirst to keep winning shines as bright as ever.

"So I look forward to being part of a successful team, working with the team to win, being the first to finish and cheering on my teammates. As always, my goal is to be on the podium."

Vinokurov added. Mark Cavendish doesn't need a presentation. He is the best sprinter of all time and we are happy to welcome Mark to the Astana Kazakstan team"

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." Mark still has a great desire to win and we will do our best to support this feeling in every race."

Cavendish signed a last-minute deal with Astana Kazakstan to join a team that has won all three Grand Tours, but whose lineup is currently severely lacking a stage race leader.

The Astana team was already severely understaffed after Vincenzo Nibali retired at the end of the season and Miguel Angel Lopez was fired for his alleged relationship with a doctor under investigation for doping.

Cees Bol is also believed to have joined Astana Kazakstan as part of his contract, but no official announcement has been made by the team that the Dutch sprinter, who moved to B&B Hotels, has joined the team.

"Having a top sprinter join our team is a kind of challenge for us, but we are ready for it. We are looking at new ways, new possibilities," Vinokurov said.

"Still, the goal remains the same: winning the classics, stage races, and of course the Grand Tours."

Cavendish will use a Willières Triestina bike from 2023 after two seasons with Quick-Step Alfa Vinyl Specialized. According to the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport (opens in new tab), the Gastaldelli family, owners of Willières Triestina, were instrumental in providing some of the additional funding needed to bring Cavendish to Astana.

Cavendish's move to Astana Kazakstan comes after Sudar Quickstep named Fabio Jacobsen as the number one sprinter for 2023 and also acquired Tim Merlier from Alpecin Deceuninck, after months of After naming Jacobsen as the number one sprinter for 2023 and acquiring Tim Merlier from Alpecin Deceuninck, there was months of speculation about his future.

The French B&B Hotels project, with several high-profile sponsors and the possibility of Cavendish as team leader, was announced on the last day of the 2022 Tour. However, a sponsor was never confirmed, and team manager Jerome Pineau was forced to admit in early December that the project would not happen, leaving the players and staff scrambling to find another team.

Rumors that Cavendish would sign with Ineos Grenadiers, Israel Premier Tech, or Human Powered Health were put to rest, but eventually Astana Kazakstan became Cavendish's ninth career professional team. ...