Mark Cavendish is Britain's first male world road race champion for 46 years Mark Cavendish's victory in Denmark is most recent in a series of British cycling triumphs. But how popular can the sport ever become in the UK? As Mark Cavendish burst across the line in Copenhagen to become world road race champion, he was only the latest in a recent line of illustrious British cyclists to achieve glory. Two months before, Cavendish claimed the Tour de France green jersey. And at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Great Britain won 14 cycling medals - eight of them gold - topping the cycling medal table and ensuring household name status for the likes of Sir Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins and Victoria Pendleton. Football's position as the UK's favourite sport may appear unassailable. But this recent spate of success raises the question of whether cycling could overtake the likes of rugby, cricket and tennis to claim the silver medal in the British public's affections. Levels of interest in the Tour of Britain may not come anywhere near that of the Tour de France. The latter has the world's largest viewing figures for an annual sports event - by contrast, the former attracted 400,000 viewers on average for its stage highlights in 2010. Read more here:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15058782
When my daughter arrived from the Philippines into the UK on July 29th she bought with her a deep passion for cycling. These past couple of months she's taught me all I know about this sport. Quite simply before she came I knew practically nothing. I enjoyed the pure spectacle of the Tour de France, but without knowing much about what was going on. I had never heard of Mark Cavendish, one of my daughter's sporting hero's. We have enjoyed some great times cycling around our local tracks, and I've spent a pretty penny of some new 'gear' for her. But the best gifts she has had, has been the chance to actually attend some great events. All at world class levels for both Triathlon and cycling. The icing on the cake was being here during the Tour of Britain, where she not only attended 4 stages, but was an Official Marshall at the Sandringham stage Finish just 100 metres from the finish line. The next day, bright and early, she was off to London for the start and finish of the final stage. The gold jersey I bought her at Sandringham returned covered with the signatures of all the 'stars'. Yes, Mark Cavendish included. Not only that but it seems she has enough of a silver tongue to also secure photo's with them and small gifts from them (like water bottles etc) When she returns home to Davao city, she takes with her more than just family bonding memories. She takes back memories of the dreams she really achieved during her UK holiday. She is just over the moon. This sport is so very popular in Philippines but enthusiasts are a world away from being able to witness the world class and world famous. Cycling has been an important catalyst in this reunion.
