Mark Cavendish has been asked by Deceuninck-QuickStep boss Patrick Lefevere to accept a new contract that will run for one year, with a basic salary at the centre of it.
The Manxman could then beef up his earnings by winning races next year, as a bonus scheme has been set out in the proposed new deal. That mooted arrangement covers the 2022 campaign only, when Cavendish will turn 37-years.
The structure of the proposed new contract is effectively the same deal as Cavendish was on this year. A more conventional deal, for two or more years and with a large salary for a star rider, has not been put on the table.
This is despite Cavendish scorching back to form with four stage wins at the Tour de France this year. Lefevere is notorious for trying to get big name riders to sign less lucrative contracts. Ireland’s Sam Bennett is departing the team at the end of this year as more money was apparently on offer at Bora-hansgrohe.
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Het Nieuwsblad has reported today that team boss Lefevere
made the offer of the new contract to Cavendish during the Tour of Britain,
which finished on Sunday.
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However, the Belgian news outlet further reports there is
a gulf between the former world champion and his headstrong boss and that
reaching agreement does not seem to be close.
In dealing with Cavendish, Lefevere has a much stronger hand that the British rider as they try to reach a deal for 2022.
The team’s main sprinter for next year, Fabio Jakobsen, looks back in top form and has just won three Vuelta stages and the points jersey. That means Lefevere can do without Cavendish for next year, even though Bennett is leaving.
Cavendish has also not looked as good in the sprints in the latter part of the season and has failed to take a win since the Tour; something he could have done with as contract talks progressed.
Lefevere has also re-signed Michael Mørkøv and it looks like Cavendish will need the world class lead-out the Dane can provide if he is to win races. That means the British sprinting legend may be more willing to sign for a smaller fee because the quality of the Deceuninck-QuickStep lead-out is so high.
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