UK is still learning as a cycling nation says Mark Cavendish

Mark Cavendish has told the FT that despite the growth in UK cycling over recent years, it will take a while before the sport becomes firmly established.

“It’s beautiful to see people cycling and it was crazy how many fans watched the Tour when it came to Yorkshire last year,” he says. “To think I have been even a part of that evolution makes me so proud.”

However, he feels that the public perception of professional racing still largely revolves around Team Sky and he would like to see that change. “It will take a generation before cycling is truly ingrained in our culture,” he says. As an example, he points to how his red points jersey win in the 2013 Giro while riding for Omega Pharma – Quick Step didn’t attract as much attention as it might have done.

“It was in the same year Wiggo was trying to win the Giro at Team Sky, but once he pulled out everyone forgot about it. I had joined an elite group of five riders who have won the points jersey at all three Grand Tours. It was huge news in every country except the UK. It’s hard to say without sounding bitter but that’s not what I mean. I’m just saying we’re still learning as a cycling nation.”

He seems optimistic about the future of road racing, however, feeling that the sport at present is ripe for innovation.

“Cycling is an insular, old-fashioned industry in which companies basically own the teams. It’s not like in football where Manchester United is the company and sponsors pay to be associated with them.

“In cycling, the name of the sponsor becomes the name of the team, like Team Sky. They have the biggest annual budget at £20m but that is a pittance compared to other sports. So there is no franchise and teams don’t grow, raise income or invest.”

Cavendish believes that the potential is huge and describes the riders as ‘moving billboards’. “When I rode for HTC-Highroad, the sponsors put in a seven-figure sum but got a quarter of a billion dollars in exposure. The biggest exposure for a team is for a rider to cross the line first with their hands in the air.”

As for how often that might happen during this year’s Tour, Cavendish says he’s comfortable with a level of pressure which earlier this year saw his team manager, Patrick Lefevere, warning him that he needs big wins ahead of his next contract.

Cavendish says that this is business as usual for him, while some of his rivals may be struggling under the weight of expectation. “As soon as I turned pro I was winning straight away so I don’t know what it’s like to not be under pressure. Marcel Kittel took a few years to get to the top, had a cracking year, and now he is a bit stressed this year. I don’t know any different.”

He also appears typically hungry for success, adding that missing last year’s Tour ‘did reignite something’. “Instead of looking towards retirement, I feel like I’m just starting the second half of my career.”