Victory sees Cavendish ‘ascend to greatness’

IMMORTALITY beckons for Mark Cavendish after his heroic triumph in Copenhagen yesterday when he became the first British cyclist since 1965 to win the world road race championship.
 
"He is probably the greatest sprinter in the history of cycling," team-mate David Millar said after the race, which was won by a nose in a dramatic finish. The Daily Telegraph was also in a saluting mood, judging that Cavendish has now "ascended into the plane of greatness".
 
Clearly we are now enjoying a golden era for British cycling, following Chris Hoy’s three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and prospects look rosy for 2012. The whole team was showered with praise for their performance at the championships, which ended with Britain topping the medal table with six.
 
The Guardian attributes British success to a new culture of cycling, which "has made bike shops around the country virtually recession-proof”. Applauding the British team’s "remarkable planning and phenomenal devotion", the Guardian wonders if after success at the Vuelta a Espana, 2011 has become the greatest year ever.
 
However, David Millar complained that Cavendish’s crowning achievement has not been fully recognised by British supporters. "It’s sad that it’s not appreciated to the degree it should be", he said. "In France, Belgium and Italy, he is like David Beckham." Maybe with success in London 2012, he’ll become our own goldenwheels.
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