MANX MISSILE
Who is Sir Mark Cavendish KBE & how long has the Tour de France cyclist been with his wife Peta Todd?
The cyclist has broken records and a collarbone
MARK CAVENDISH is a British cycling legend, specialising in sprint stage wins. His wife Peta Todd is special to him too - something evident in the Tour de France Netflix documentary.
He recently made sporting history with a record 35th Tour de France stage victory - 16 years after his first, in 2008.
What happened to Sir Mark Cavendish and his wife Peta?
He and his family were in the news in 2021 after suffering injuries at the hands of robbers who broke into his home.
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Four intruders broke into the house, where his wife Peta Todd and children were inside at the time.
Police said they threatened ex-Page 3 girl Peta with a knife before assaulting Tour de France hero Mark.
The masked thugs then allegedly made off with a Louis Vuitton suitcase and two high-value watches.
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Thankfully no one was seriously injured but police said the family have been left "shaken" by the raid on November 27.
Mark said in a statement: “As I’m sure you will understand, this incident has left our family extremely distressed – not just myself and Peta but our children as well, who feared for their lives and are now struggling with the after-effects.
"No one should have to experience the sort of violence and threats made against us, let alone this happening in a family home – a place where everyone should feel safe."
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Who is Mark Cavendish?
Otherwise known as the Manx Missile, Mark Cavendish is a cycling superstar from the Isle of Man.
He is widely considered the greatest road sprinter in history, having won a record-equalling 34 stages at the Tour de France.
Cavendish became world champion in 2011, winning the champion's rainbow jersey in Copenhagen.
He has won the points jersey at all three Grand Tours, twice at the Tour, as well as at the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.
He has also won medals on the track, clinching Madison gold at the UCI track world championships three times in 2005, 2008 and 2016.
Olympic gold has, unfortunately, evaded Cavendish throughout his career and he came close in 2016 with omnium silver in Rio.
In 2023, he was forced to withdraw from that year's race with a broken collarbone after suffering a fall on stage eight.
He revealed the depression that the collarbone injury had on his mental state, with problems beginning to surface in 2018.
In the film "Mark Cavendish: Never Enough”, he talks about his diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus – common among endurance athletes – and how it affected his performances and fitness.
He recently broke the Tour de France record of Most Stage Wins.
His victory comes just four days after struggling in the heat of a punishing opening stage out of Florence, where he vomited while on his bike.
He missed the opportunity to contest stage three after being caught behind a late crash in Turin.
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Who is Sir Mark Cavendish's wife Peta?
Cavendish married model Peta Todd in 2013.
The pair met when Mark was racing in California, when she was working for The Sun's Page 3.
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Alongside hosting the Things I Told My Daughter Podcast for The Sun, Peta has dedicated her time to raising funds for the Help for Heroes charity.
In 2009, Peta climbed Mount Kilimanjaro alongside injured servicemen and women and the following year was given an award for her outstanding contribution to the charity, including a personal meeting from Prince William.
When did Sir Mark Cavendish and Peta Todd get married?
On 5 October 2013, Sir Mark married model Peta Todd. The couple met in November 2010.
The pair tied the knot at One Mayfair, a former church in central London.
Instead of presents, the couple asked for donations to their chosen charities, Help For Heroes and Right To Play.
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Do Sir Mark Cavendish and Peta Todd have children?
The couple have four children together, three girls and one boy.
In 2019, Peta wrote in The Sun that they would stop at four children.
When did Sir Mark Cavendish retire from cycling?
Mark announced that he would retire at the end of the 2023 season.
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Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "Cycling has been my life for over 25 years. I have lived an absolute dream and the bike has given me the opportunity to see the world and meet some incredible people."
However, he decided to extend his contract. His team, Astana Qazaqstan, backed his 2024 return.
Cycling has been my life for over 25 years. I have lived an absolute dream and the bike has given me the opportunity to see the world and meet some incredible people."
Sir Mark Cavendish
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