The long goodbyes

The Long Goodbye is a 1970s Hollywood crime thriller, but the phrase could also be used to describe three of the greatest ever British cyclists and their protracted farewells. Two final bows seem likely to come at the end of this season, with the third expected to follow 12 months later. The first two are Mark Cavendish and Chris Froome, while the third is Geraint Thomas, who, after months of uncertainty, signed a new two-year contract with Ineos Grenadiers at the end of 2021.

It will surely be Thomas’s last as a pro cyclist, just as Cavendish’s similarly late one-year extension with QuickStep is likely to be his final contract. Beyond this year, Cavendish has said that he would like to stay with the team as a member of the backroom staff.

Even the greatest of them all, Eddy Merckx, suffered an ignominious end. As his powers waned, his career just petered out

Froome is in a similar situation. This should be his final year as a rider, though his agreement with Israel-Premier Tech is rumoured to extend beyond that, and when his career as a cyclist ends he may stay involved in some capacity.

What is certain is that, one way or another, the long goodbyes