'Isle of Man is best place in the world to cycle'

Sir Mark said he has been able to enjoy the 'slower pace' on the island

Cycling legend Sir Mark Cavendish has revealed that he rates his Isle of Man homeland as the "best place to ride a bike in the world".

The 40-year-old from Laxey has cycled across the world in a glittering career that saw him win Olympic, Commonwealth and World Championship medals and ended on a high in 2024 with a record 35th stage win at the Tour de France.

Speaking as he launched his fifth book, Believe, he said nothing compared to the Manx landscape for cycling, as even in bad weather, it "toughens you up".

He also said that as a "proud Manxman", he loved now having time to get back to the island more often, as he always the sense that everyone there was "super proud of what I've done" and it was the place "where I feel most 'just Mark'".

Sir Mark, who was known as the 'Manx Missile', was knighted in the King's Birthday Honours in 2024 and honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award at BBC Sports Personality of the Year later in the same year.

Sir Mark took a record 35th stage win at the Tour de France in 2024

He said he felt very grateful for the "recognition" but was happiest about being able to return to the Isle of Man more often.

"It's been great to be back loads this year," he said.

"My heart's always there - to be able to spend time there again, I just love it.

"It's beautiful. Waking up and seeing the sea on a morning is something that has always been with me from growing up there."

He said though "the weather's not great a lot of the time, that toughens you up".

"It's my favourite place in the world to ride a bike and for me, it's the best place in the world to train," he said.

Sir Mark won a huge number of medals and titles across a glittering career

The island's affection for the cyclist saw the raceway at National Sport Centre, where he rode as a child, renamed in his honour in 2024.

But for the unassuming champion, what he loves most is the way people greet him on his return.

"I get the sense that everyone is proud of what I've done and they say 'oh, great race last week', but it's just like that, I'm just Mark.

"That's where I feel most like 'just Mark'."

He said he felt "chill" on the island, adding: "Life kind of slows down."

"Everyone is friendly and welcoming.

"It's a small community and when you grow up there... it's very nice, it's very safe and very wholesome."

A mural at the raceway is made up of the names of 1,000 school children

He said he was certain the island could produce another cycling champion, pointing to the enthusiasm for the sport and the widespread use of the "place where I started racing".

"As long as I can remember, there were 200 kids down there on a Tuesday night, and there's still 200 kids down there on a Tuesday night," he said.

"I'd to continue seeing the three legs [of the Manx triskelion national symbol] represented in cycling across the world.

"We've definitely got the best tools and the best place to ride a bike, so there shouldn't be any excuse not to.

"I'm the biggest believer that if you put the hard work into anything you want to achieve and you believe enough - then you can do what you want to do.

"I was never, physically, the best cyclist by any means, but I worked and I believed."