Mark Cavendish signs for Team Sky

LONDON, UK - World Champion and Tour de France green jersey Mark Cavendish has signed for Sky, ending months of speculation about where the Manxman would ride next season.

It was widely expected he would sign for Sky following the collapse of the HTC Highroad team but in recent days there had been rumours that he would move to Garmin. It was suggest he wanted to sign for a team riding Specialized bikes rather than the Pinarello Dogma 2 favoured by Sky. However Sky confirmed last night that he would join the British team.

Sky Bet, owned by the same company as Sky, last night made Cavendish 6/1 to win the green jersey in the 2012 Tour de France and then go on to win the Olympic gold medal in the road race.

In addition to 20 Tour de France stage wins, Cavendish has secured a further 10 Grand Tour stage victories in his career, as well as the overall points title at the 2010 Vuelta a Espana. In 2009 Cavendish also won the prestigious Milan-San Remo race, one of the sport’s recognised ‘Monuments’.

Dave Brailsford, Team Sky Principal, said: “Mark is the greatest sprinter of his generation and is well on his way to becoming the greatest of all time. He is a rider of exceptional talent who has proved his pedigree at the very highest level of our sport. “

“Mark is a born winner and what excites me most is the attitude he brings to all the teams he rides for. We want to inspire more fans to get into cycling and I can think of no one better to help us do that. We are delighted that the new world champion will be riding for Team Sky next season.”

His future team-mates lined up to heap praise on Cavendish for joining Team Sky.

Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky rider, said: “I think I speak for everyone in the squad when I say that we’re all delighted to have Cav joining us at Team Sky. He is the best sprinter in the world and has an energy and passion for cycling that is infectious. Team Sky has enjoyed a fantastic second season and Mark’s signing is another statement of our intent for next year and beyond.”

Geraint Thomas, Team Sky rider, said: “Cav joining Team Sky is fantastic news. In many ways it’s like he’s coming home – the team has a number of riders and support staff that he grew up with and it won’t take him any time to settle in. I think everyone saw that when we helped him to victory for Great Britain at the Worlds, and we are all looking forward to helping him deliver more wins for Team Sky.”

Edvald Boasson Hagen, Team Sky rider, said: “I know from my time riding with Mark at Columbia-HTC what a special talent he is and it’s great that we are back on the same team. Mark is a good guy, delivers when it matters and is another weapon in our squad for next year.”

Ben Swift, Team Sky rider, said: “The young sprinters here are always looking to learn and having someone like Cav on the team is going to help us a lot. We know each other very well already, but seeing how he goes about things on a daily basis will be really good for me personally and he’s always happy to give tips and advice. It’s great to have him on the team.”

The only sadness for Cavendish will be that his HTC leadout man Mark Renshaw has chosen not to ride with him next season, a decision that Cavendish has likened to splitting up with a girlfriend or being betrayed by a close member of his family.