2006 Tour of Britain (UCI 2.1)
Stage 6, London
Sunday, September 3 | www.tourofbritain.com
Mark Cavendish Interview(by Larry Hickmott)
At the start of the final stage, I spoke to the rider who has signed a contract with high profile Pro Tour team, T-Mobile. "I am over the moon and have a permanent grin on my face. I have known for a few days it would happen and it was difficult to keep it quiet. I just had to prove myself here and I think I have done that."
"This is what I have been aiming for and turned down second division teams last year in the hope of turning professional for T-Mobile this year. Everyone has stayed good to their word and it's paid off for me".
"I have worked my way up every ladder I can now to the top one and am now at the bottom of the one I wanted to be on. My next goal is to work my way up to this ladder."
"I've course I am nervous, this is a complete change of lifestyle and I know I am going to have spend my time working hard now but I am really looking forward to it. It's what every young cyclist dreams of."
Asked what his goals are now, he says "the Olympics are still a big goal and that includes the road race at the 2012 Olympics as well as the track. I'd also like to win the green jersey in other stage races but I still have a lot to learn."
Asked is it surreal sitting and relaxing in the T-Mobile bus before a stage knowing he has 'made it' in terms of signing for a big team, he replied "This week not really, but in the Regio Tour (his first race for T-Mobile) yes. I still look down and see the pink gloves when I ride and have to take it in what I have done."
Speaking afterwards, Mark said of the final stage, "If there is any stage that suits me, it's this one and last year I crashed. I really really wanted this one and I would love to have got the stage but I am just making a habit of being too far back."
"Quickstep were fast at leading it out and the GB boys did an amazing job again to keep the pace up and unfortunately we only had four in the race and three of my team mates worked all day. I only had Michael to lead me out at the end and he did an amazing job to keep me up there."
"At 300 metres to go as per usual, I was 7 or 8 back and I had to come from there. I am only young and get bullied by certain teams but that happens as there is always a lot of heat and tension in the sprints. I am sure with experience, I will bet used to being up there. Some of the sprinters come from far back, like Robbie McEwen but he has the legs to do it and get round them all".
On the stage, Mark says, it was spectacular going through London and the organisation did an amazing job to get the roads shut today. "The amount of people that were out was so promising for cycling" he said.
On the Mall circuit, he said "it was great. It's a pity about the wind which made it quite hard but it was a beautiful circuit and the finish in the mall was an amazing experience. I am glad I was able to give T-Mobile a starting present and hope it continues that I keep getting jerseys and stages for them."
On forthcoming goals, he says "I have got two stage races (Germany) before the Worlds where I would like to get a top result. Hopefully win it this year. I thought I was capable last year but messed up but with a strong GB team to help us, we're capable of showing how strong we are at Under 23 Level."
On his new found climbing ability, he said "I have a hard year with injuries and so I have gone back to basics. I have had a lot less racing than I normally have in a year and this has meant less opportunity for results but I am getting the strength from training that I have lacked for the last few years."
Mark is based in Italy now with the GB Under 23 riders and on the hilly course at the Worlds, he says "if you can't get up and down them in amateur level you're not going to make it a professional level."
Mark, still in the very early stages of bring a professional, says that he is looking at 2009 at being the year where he starts to show himself as a pro in the big races like Grand Tours and so on. He'll be 23 then. "Whatever happens before then is a bonus really".
One thing Mark is really looking forward to is a break having been on the treadmill all year which has been a year of major highlights (Commonwealth Games) and some pretty awful lowlights (crashes). "I'm looking forward to having a proper holiday and then I'll see what my programme is for next year before I commit to anything."
On GB Olympic Academy manager, Rod Ellingworth, his coach and manager in the Under 23 programme before he turned pro, Mark reserved special praise for him and the programme he heads up. "He's going to carry on training me and he's a mentor to me now. Everything he says to me, I take a great interest in and he's been so great. He's been the biggest influence on me and has always believed in me whereas a lot of people haven't. For that I am so grateful.
Mark also admits that he won't be avoiding the track saying "the road is the best way to get your strength for the track so it will help me on that." During the winter he is hoping to be at home more, spending more time with his girlfriend Mellissa who he saw briefly after the stage in Sheffield and recharging his batteries for next season. We wish him lots of luck in his coming races.
