Mark Cavendish has signed to ride for Astana Qazaqstan in 2023, giving him the opportunity to set a record for the number of stage wins in the Tour de France ©Getty Images

Mark Cavendish will this year target setting a record for the number of stage wins in the Tour de France after ending speculation about this future by signing a one-year contract with Astana Qazaqstan.

The 37-year-old Briton is currently level with Belgium’s Eddie Merckx, a legendary figure and the winner of 34 stages from 1969 to 1975.

After winning four stages at the 2021 edition of the Tour de France, Cavendish missed last year's race. 

“I am really excited for this adventure, I raced with Alexandr Vinokurov for many years, and now I’m racing with his two boys!" Cavendish, the 2011 world road champion, said.

"I remember when they were children the same age as my own, dreaming to be bike racers,

"I'm looking forward to being part of a successful team, whether working with the team for wins, crossing the line first myself, or cheering on my team-mates."

Astana manager Alexandr Vinokourov, the 2012 Olympic road race gold medallist, claimed he had signed "the best sprinter in the world."

Mark Cavendish, in green, equalled the record of Belgium's Eddie Merckx when he won a 34th stage of the Tour de France in 2021 ©Getty Images
Mark Cavendish, in green, equalled the record of Belgium's Eddie Merckx when he won a 34th stage of the Tour de France in 2021 ©Getty Images

Cavendish had won the green jersey, awarded to the first rider in the points classification, at the Tour de France in 2011 and 2021.

He had left QuickStep-AlphaVinyl at the end of the 2022 season after two years.

Last year, Cavendish had won the Milano-Torino, the UAE Tour, Tour of Oman, a stage of the Giro d'Italia and the British Road championships.

He  originally seemed likely to sign for B and B Hotels before the deal fell through.

"Mark still has a big desire to win and we are going to support this feeling with all our forces in all kind of races." said Vinokourov,

Cavendish, an Olympic silver medallist in the omnium at Rio 2016, had travelled to Astana's training camp in Spain over the new year to finalise the deal.

"Astana Qazaqstan Team is going to be a great place to be successful, with a strong team led by Alexandr, a champion on the bike and a gentleman off the bike," Cavendish said.

Cavendish is expected to race on a Willier Triestina in 2023.

It has been reported in Italy that the manufacturer provided the additional funding which made his move to Astana possible.

Cavendish is expected to receive support with the signing of Dutchman Cees Bol, another sprinter who had also seemed set to join B and B before the deal fell through