Mark Cavendish craves Olympic gold

Mark Cavendish comes off of 2011 with a new team, the green jersey from the Tour de France AND the World Championship stripes, but that does not mean that the Manx rider is ready to sit on his laurels in 2012. Whether he’ll return to France to defend his sprinter’s jersey is not yet known, but Cav definitely has his sights set on the 2012 Olympic road race in London.

From Sky Sports:

Cavendish wants to become one of the best cyclists in history, and capturing Olympic gold next year would help with his ultimate aim.

He will ride for British pro cycling squad Team Sky next year, and that will only help his chances of then delivering gold at the Olympics.

All of his five Olympic team-mates will most probably be Team Sky colleagues, and although Cavendish has that sole focus needed in sprinters, he is determined to win for them and his country.

“I’d love to win a gold medal for me, and for cycling, but to be able to do it for my country at the Olympics, and hopefully kick-start a wonderful two weeks for British sport, means that the five of us in the road race team will do everything in our powers to make it happen,” said Cavendish.

Opening impact

Cavendish could give the London Olympics a massive boost as the road race takes place on the opening day and finishes along The Mall – meaning a win would put him even higher up in the country’s esteem.

The likes of Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton made their names in Beijing, but Cavendish has taken a few years more, with his rise capped by being awarded an MBE by the Queen.

“All the guys from Beijing got them in 2008 so I’ve waited quite a bit longer, it was really nice,” Cavendish said after visiting Buckingham Palace.

He added on www.sportsvibe.co.uk: “I’m a very different person because of this year and the prospect of what will happen in my life next year.”

Cavendish, 26, will set off as favourite for the Olympic road race, with a bunch sprint expected in front of Buckingham Palace, but that tag is not something that will weigh too heavy on his shoulders.

Favourite

Cavendish was favourite for the green jersey in Le Tour and duly won five stages – to take his overall tally to 20 – on his way to claiming the points classification. He was also favourite for the world road race title when he became the first British man since Tom Simpson in 1965 to win the coveted rainbow jersey.

Although Britain’s cyclists dominated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Cavendish came home without a medal, but this time around he is determined to be one of the stars of the show.

It took a three-year plan from Cavendish’s coach and mentor Rod Ellingworth to bring home world gold, and the Manx Missile is sure he can achieve another dream next year in London.

“To win that world title with such a fantastic plan of action, thought up three years’ ago when we knew the world championships would be in Copenhagen, just fulfilled all my dreams,” he added. “But now I have other dreams.”