\n<\/p>\n
Cavendish is happy with what he has achieved in his career, too. If he does come back, it won’t all be for that record. <\/p>\n
As he says in Never Enough, “the media started that, and all of a sudden that’s all I’m going for”.<\/p>\n
But where he has been will always inform whatever the next chapter of his life holds.<\/p>\n
Cavendish says it was “important” he was open in the documentary.<\/p>\n
“It’s hard to feel anyone can relate to how you’re feeling,” he says. “It was important to lay myself so open to show that to anybody who could be affected [in a similar way].”<\/p>\n
As he processes what he has said, he jokes: “It sounds like one of those warnings.”<\/p>\n
But Never Enough really delves into a period in Cavendish’s life which was a far bigger test than any furious dash to the line on the bike.<\/p>\n
Eight years and several victories into his glittering road cycling career, the 2016 Cavendish won four stages at the Tour for Dimension Data, before his mental health – and the team cohesion – began to spiral out of control. <\/p>\n
The clandestine Epstein Barr virus – a terrible fatiguing condition for an endurance athlete to suffer – preceded several crashes, most notably a huge somersault after colliding with a traffic island in Italy.<\/p>\n
It got to the point where he wasn’t racing. He was just riding a bike. After losing his form, he over-trained and avoided eating correctly.<\/p>\n
Nothing worked, and eventually the depression affected his family life.<\/p>\n
“The key point is to show positivity towards where you can go. I never, ever want to deal what I’ve dealt with again. And I never want anybody to have to deal with these things. <\/p>\n
“It’s not about feeling sorry. I don’t feel sorry for myself – I’m very fortunate to have the life I have. But more fortunate to have the people around me that I have, and that’s knowing I’ve had that support network, and that support network is a massive crutch and a massive safety blanket I guess. <\/p>\n
“You never get ‘better’,” he says. “But if you can see positives and not look back\u2026 that’s definitely the driving force to live the happiest life you can.”<\/p>\n
Cavendish sought help, and is better for it. Far better.<\/p>\n
After proclaiming through tears at the end of a race in Belgium in 2020 that he had “probably” taken part in his last event, he was picked up by his old Quick Step team – run by the equally forthright, but warm and charismatic, Patrick Lefevere. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n