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Sir Mark Cavendish now drives an Aston Martin DBX707

The name’s Cavendish...Sir Mark Cavendish

That's one heck of a Support And Gear wagon, mate. PHOTO FROM ASTON MARTIN

We usually associate Aston Martin with James Bond, but the premier British marque has just chosen Sir Mark Cavendish (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire) as its first “Global High Performance” ambassador.

Known in professional cycling as the most successful sprinter in the history of the sport with 35 victories, Cavendish—also known as the “Manx Missile”—recently took delivery of the DBX707 and put it through its paces on the Isle of Man.

One of the fastest sprinters on the planet, now with one of the fastest SUVs. PHOTO FROM ASTON MARTIN

Recently knighted at Windsor Castle by William, Prince of Wales, after finishing this year’s Tour de France, Sir Mark has had an illustrious career spanning more than two decades. He started racing as an amateur with Team Persil in 2004, then moved to the professional division a year later with Team Sparkasse.

From then until this year, Cavendish racked up medals from all three Grand Tours, as well as various stage races and Classics, including the World Road Race Championships in 2011. At this year’s Tour de France, he won his 35th Tour stage win, breaking the overall stage victory record previously held by Eddy “The Cannibal” Merckx.

Pro cyclists go insanely fast down a set of curves, sometimes even faster than a car. PHOTO FROM ASTON MARTIN

Known for his sheer sprint speed and talent for finding a gap in the final hundred meters to the line, it’s only fitting that his ride should be the DBX707.

The ultra-luxury SUV is powered by a twin-turbo V8 making over 700hp, doing the 0-60mph (or 0-96km/h) sprint in a little over three seconds, and charging on to a 310km/h top speed. And because it’s an Aston, the bespoke cabin uses the finest materials to provide a soothing place to rest in after a long day in the saddle.

We call everybody 'sir' these days, but Sir Mark Cavendish has really earned the title. PHOTO FROM ASTON MARTIN

“I’m excited to get stuck into this new role with Aston Martin,” he says. “I’ve long admired the brand’s dedication to pushing boundaries, and now, to be part of that drive for peak performance is a unique privilege. For a car enthusiast like me, it really is a boyhood dream come true to represent the iconic Aston Martin wings. Together, I believe we can achieve something truly remarkable.”

With top-tier cycling products now priced nearly the same as premium sport bikes, no doubt more than a few Middle Aged Millionaires In Lycra (MAMIL) will think about adding an Aston Martin to the stable as well.



Andy Leuterio

Andy is both an avid cyclist and a car enthusiast who has finally made the shift to motorcycles. You've probably seen him on his bicycle or motorbike overtaking your crawling car. He is the author of the ‘Quickshift’ column.



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