Cycling: Mark Cavendish’s long-awaited track return

WORLD road race champion Mark Cavendish will make his first track appearance in two and a half years in the second round of the Revolution series at Manchester’s National Cycling Centre later this month.

It will be the Manxman’s first competitive Velodrome outing since 2009, when the Tour de France green jersey holder represented Britain at the track world championships in Pruszkow, Poland.

Cavenndish, who won the Madison world championship with Rob Hayles in 2005 and again with Bradley Wiggins in 2008, has often credited his lightning speed to years of track racing.

“Mark raced Revolution regularly in the early years so it is fantastic to welcome him back,” said James Pope of Face Partnership, who are organising the event. “After such a fantastic year on the road the crowd are going to provide a hero’s welcome.”

HTC-Highroad rider Cavendish, who will race for Britain’s Team Sky next season, has won 20 stages in the Tour de France since 2008.

In the 19 November Manchester event, Cavendish will face strong opposition, notably from Sky’s Geraint Thomas and Rapha Condor Sharp’s Ed Clancy.