A record-breaking Tour de France could still be followed by Sir Mark Cavendish competing at the Paris Olympics.
And the hope of British Cycling is that the 39-year-old decides to put off retirement again.
The Manx Missile abandoned plans to step away from the sport when injury prevented him last year from winning a record 35th stage at the Tour de France – but that milestone was finally achieved today.
GB Cycling team performance director Stephen Park told Sky News: “While this year is currently due to be his last year riding Tour de France, and possibly his last year riding internationally as a pro, I dare say if he gets to the end of the year and he’s still feeling good and feels like he’s actually getting stronger again, then maybe he’ll review that decision.
“But at the moment, certainly we’re going to be working with him all the way through this year in supporting everything he’s doing.”
So what could come next?
“Mark Cavendish is somebody who is still actively involved in British Cycling,” Mr Park said.
“He’s on our pro road squad. He’s certainly somebody that’s in consideration for major races, on our reserve list even for this coming Olympic Games in Paris.
“And again he will be included in the discussions of riders who’ll be looking to go to the world championships.”
The expertise and experience honed since Sir Mark made his Tour de France debut in 2007 was on display as he mastered the sprint finish on day five near the southeast city of Lyon.
Crossing the line first, he became the most prolific stage winner in the 121-year history of cycling’s premier event.
Mr Park was watching history made from the HQ of British Cycling with riders who have competed at the highest levels.
“They were talking about how the nature of sprinting has actually changed over the years… and right now they’re going so fast,” he said.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
“They need… to get them into the right position as they come to that final sprint, the final few hundred metres as they go to the run, and judging exactly the right time to be able to make your jump and make your effort.
“Because if you go too soon, you run out of steam. If you go too late, you miss the opportunity.
“So this time Mark managed to get that running well, and he managed to time his sprint absolutely perfectly to be able to hold off all the opposition as he got to the finish line.”
Read more:
Turkish player investigated by UEFA
Esports World Cup kicks off
Mark Cavendish celebrating with his wife and children. Pic: AP
And that is why, to Mr Park, the recently-knighted rider is “the world’s greatest ever road racing sprinter”.
He has won three golds on the track at the world championships and was a road world champion in 2011, while his silver in the Olympics came in Rio 2016.
Certainly, British Cycling thinks he has more to offer competitively – despite having to recover from a broken collar bone at last year’s Tour to return to create history.
And the hope is the Isle of Man-born rider continues to inspire more to take up the sport.
“We’ve got the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain coming up later this year, and we’re hoping that Mark will be able to play a part in that race and have the opportunity in front of British crowds to be able to inspire youngsters to get on their bikes.
“And I’m sure they’ll be looking at what happened today and be very inspired by the excitement and the thrill of a sprint finish.”