Mark Cavendish is laying the groundwork for a successful 2024 season with high-altitude training in Colombia. His coach, Vassilis Anastopoulos, is convinced that training in the thin air is the best way for the Manxman to prepare for his early season goals in the sprint events, his last season in the sport.

Cavendish and several of his teammates, including Mikhail Morkov and Cees Bol, are currently in Rio Negro, Colombia, 2,150 meters above sea level in the Andes Mountains, for a two-week high-altitude training camp. They will then race a stage race at the Tour Colombia, which will take place from February 6-11.

Vassilis Anastopoulos, head coach of Astana Kazakstan, told the Italian website BiciPro that Cavendish is focusing primarily on aerobic development this winter.

"There are different ways to approach high-altitude training. Cavendish currently spends many hours in the saddle, but has only done shorter periods of more intensive training. So far, he seems to be responding well."

According to BiciPro, Cavendish's early season race program includes the Tour Colombia, UAE Tour (February 19-25), and Tirreno Adriatico (March 4-10).

Anastopoulos said the high altitude camp and Colombian stage races are being treated as a 2-in-1 unit of training and race work.

"The main reason Mark is doing the high altitude training camp in Colombia is to improve his aerobic capacity," Anastopoulos explained to BiciPro.

"In my opinion, even a classical specialist should do at least one high altitude training camp. If that is not possible, then one at sea level. But I think the benefits of high altitude training are greater. That's why I'm going back to Sierra Nevada [Spain] in May to train at altitude again."

In December, Cavendish spoke about his past high-altitude training and why he wants to do it again.