Mark Cavendish will join Quick Step Alfa Vinyl in 2022 and will attend a get-together with his teammates next week in Calpe, Spain.

Cavendish was expected to agree and sign a new one-year contract after the Ghent Six. However, he crashed badly on the last day of the race and needed several weeks off to recover from broken ribs and a punctured lung. Lefebvre prioritized Cavendish's health over the contract, but now an agreement has been reached and Cavendish has revealed that he will travel to Spain to take the official team photo that will sanctify his presence in the Belgian team in 2022.

"Mark wanted to extend the fairy tale, but I didn't want to take it away from him," Lefebvre told Sporza and other Belgian media after a deal was announced between his team and the Belgian city of Ypres to facilitate a cycling vacation in the region.

"The deal is done. He is with us for another year. Only the signing remains, but that will be done soon."

Cavendish secured his Deceuninck-QuickStep status for 2021 after several difficult years battling Epstein-Barr syndrome and depression. He was eager to return to the Belgian team and helped find sponsors to cover his base salary. He stepped up at the Tour de France when Sam Bennett was no longer able to ride the Tour de France. His return to the Tour was a miraculous return to France, winning four sprint stages and taking the green points jersey, tying the stage victory record held by Eddy Merckx.

Cavendish said that had he won the final stage of the Tour on the Champs Elysees, he might have announced his retirement. But he finished third and soon realized he wanted to continue racing in 2022.

"I wanted Marc to win stage 5 in Paris and say ciao there, but it's hard for an old athlete to say goodbye," Lefebvre said.

"We sat down together again after the Tour presentation in Paris in October. I asked him if he wanted to continue racing for another year. He said yes, even if he won on the Champs Elysées. What happens next?' That remains to be seen, but I won't promise more than a year."

Cavendish and Lefebvre have been negotiating since the Tour de France, but have struggled to agree on terms after his success in 2021.

Lefevere said in September that they had reached an agreement on wages and bonuses, but the two remained stuck with Cavendish's desire to move into management after his career.

"Mark Cavendish thinks his image is valuable, but I also think about the image of the team. 'When I ask him what he wants to do, he says he wants to learn by watching me. But do I have to pay someone to learn?

Lefebvre indicated that this last aspect has now been resolved, but did not say whether he would mentor or hire Cavendish after his racing career ended.

"Everyone already knows that it gets difficult when managers and lawyers are involved," explained Lefebvre.

"It took a long time, but there was no rush. But at some point you hand it over and when the deal is done, you leave it to those people."

Cavendish will need several weeks of rest to fully recover from his injury at Ghent Six. However, he must travel to Spain for a series of team meetings and to take the official 2022 photo.

"Mark will go to Spain, but he will not be able to fly because of his injury.

"The riders have a program of activities from 8 am to 8 pm: duties, practices, and tests. He will hardly ride his bike for the first few days, but we want him there."

"With Mark, the team picture is perfect.