Mark Cavendish to return to island for lap of honour

Mark Cavendish's success will be celebrated at the event on Thursday

A special homecoming event is set to welcome Sir Mark Cavendish to the Isle of Man for the first time since he became the Tour de France's most successful stage winner ever.

The Manx Missile secured a record-breaking 35th stage win in July, surpassing Eddy Merckx's previous tally.

Thursday’s event will see Sir Mark complete a lap of honour around the raceway at the National Sports Centre (NSC), where he started cycling competitively as a child.

Members of the public have been invited to line the path, which is set to be renamed in the cyclist’s honour, to wave flags and banners during the lap at 13:00 BST.

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan, Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer, and Dot Tilbury, who coached him as a child, will welcome him at the NSC.

Mark Cavendish started cycling at the raceway at the National Sports Centre

The gathering will see more details about the Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway scheme, due to open early next year to honour the cyclist’s achievements, revealed by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (Desc).

Desc Minister Daphne Caine said his success had created “a sense of national pride each time his triumphs have put the Isle of Man on the map”.

“Sir Mark’s achievements are truly exceptional and provide an inspiration for ongoing generations of children to get involved in cycling,” she said.

“Thursday will be the first opportunity for the Isle of Man to applaud and celebrate the Manx Missile, fittingly at the place where he started.”

With “extremely limited” parking available at the NSC, spectators have been asked to arrive “on foot, by bus or bicycle” from 12:00 BST and be in place along the raceway no later than 12:45.

A government spokeswoman said in the event of bad weather, the lap may be postponed until Friday, but a decision on that would be made on Wednesday.

The NSC swimming pool will be closed between 12:00 and 14:30 BST on the day.