Sprint ace Mark Cavendish ends cycling career in style with Singapore win

SINGAPORE (AP) — Mark Cavendish, one of the best road sprinters in cycling history, retired in style on Sunday by winning the Tour de France Criterium in Singapore.

The 39-year-old from the Isle of Man broke famed Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx’s long-standing record for most career Tour de France stage wins with his 35th victory in July.

Fittingly, for his final race Cavendish wore No. 35 on his race jersey and won in a dash to the line for the 165th victory overall in his career.

“I’m quite emotional actually,” Cavendish said. “I realised in the last 5 laps that it was the last 15 kilometers (9 miles) of my career."

He finished just ahead of Belgian riders Jasper Philipsen and Arnaud De Lie.

“What an incredible day to share my last race with those riders," Cavendish said. "With the future of sprinting, with this next generation of sprinters."

Nicknamed the “Manx Missile,” Cavendish had planned to retire after the 2023 season but changed course and returned with the goal of passing Merckx's Tour stage-win record.

However, Cavendish was a pure sprinter and — being limited in the mountain stages — was never close to winning the Tour.

Cavendish also won stages at the two other Grand Tours — 17 on the Giro d’Italia and three at the Spanish Vuelta — and became a world champion in 2011 in Copenhagen.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Mark Cavendish of Astana Qazaqstan competes in the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Danial Hakim)

Mark Cavendish of Astana Qazaqstan poses on the podium during podium ceremony of the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Danial Hakim)

Mark Cavendish of Astana Qazaqstan, centre, Alpecin Deceunick's Jasper Philipsen, left, and Belgian Champion, Arnaud De Lie, of Lotto Destiny, right pose on the podium during the Prudential Singapore Tour De France Criterium, Sunday, November 10th, 2024. (AP Photo/Danial Hakim)

Mark Cavendish of Astana Qazaqstan, centre, rides to win the Prudential Singapore Tour De France Criterium, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Danial Hakim)

Mark Cavendish of Astana Qazaqstan poses on the podium during the Prudential Singapore Tour De France Criterium, Sunday, November 10th, 2024. (AP Photo/Danial Hakim)

Mark Cavendish of Astana Qazaqstan, centre, celebrates after crossing the finish line during the Prudential Singapore Tour De France Criterium, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Danial Hakim)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Devin Booker scored 31 points and Bradley Beal added 24 to help the Phoenix Suns open NBA Cup pool play with a 120-112 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.

Grayson Allen chipped in 15 points for the Suns. Booker, Beal and Allen combined to make 13 3-pointers. Mason Plumlee finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds while starting in place of injured center Jusuf Nurkic.

John Collins led the Jazz with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Kyle Filipowski added 18 points off the bench and Lauri Markkanen chipped in 17. Jordan Clarkson finished with 16 points and a team-high eight assists.

Utah trailed by double digits much of the game but cut the deficit to 89-83 on Filipowski’s dunk with 10:18 left. Beal countered with consecutive baskets to keep the Jazz from drawing closer. Royce O’Neale and Booker followed with back-to-back 3-pointers to extend Phoenix’s lead to 110-98 with 3:58 remaining.

Suns: Explosive and efficient offense helped Phoenix squash multiple would-be rallies. The Suns were proficient in transition, scoring 16 fast-break points, and also knocked down 18 3-pointers.

Jazz: Utah flexed its muscle around the basket, outscoring the Suns 58-34 in the paint.

After the Jazz pulled within five on back-to-back baskets from Markkanen and Filipowski, an unforced defensive error ignited the Suns. Markkanen accidentally tipped the ball into the Phoenix basket while going for a rebound. It touched off a 12-0 run that put the Suns up 49-32 midway through the second quarter.

Phoenix went 9 of 17 from 3-point range in the first half while shooting 58.5% from the field overall.

The Suns visit Sacramento on Wednesday for their second game in four days against the Kings while the Jazz host Dallas on Thursday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh, left, and Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) battle for a loose ball during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah Jazz forward John Collins goes to the basket as Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker, center, Mason Plumlee (22) looks on during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale (00) blocks the shot from Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, center, drives to the basket as Phoenix Suns' Ryan Dunn (0) and Devin Booker, right, defend during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) goes to the basket as Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) defends during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) goes to the basket as Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) defends during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)