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Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway to be officially opened

Ashlea Tracey
BBC News, Isle of Man
BBC Sir Mark Cavendish in his blue 35 stage victory jersey at the sports centre raceway. A Manx flag is behind him with crowds.BBC
The Sir Mark Cavendish raceway will be officially launched at an event in Douglas

The raceway where Sir Mark Cavendish fell in love with cycling as a 10-year-old boy will be officially renamed later to celebrate his legacy in the Manx capital.

The cycleway at the National Sports Centre in Douglas was where the Manx Missile first started cycling competitively as a child.

The 40-year-old went on to become the most successful stage winner in Tour de France history when he took his 35th victory last year, having claimed 135 career wins.

Sir Mark will complete a timed "hot lap" of the 0.6-mile (1km) circuit, then school children and members of his former cycling club will join him for a ride-out lap, before he officially opens the raceway.

A close up of a red sign attached to a green fence. It shows a photo of a young Mark Cavendish in a striped t-shirt and helmet at the raceway. Next to it reads: Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway and text explains his early years in cycling.
A young Mark Cavendish started cycling competitively as a boy on the circuit
Large white writing on grey tarmac has red writing inside of it. The words of the names of Manx school children. Behind it the quote "I dreamed of being like my heroes" can be read in large red writing attached to a green fence by a grass hill.
The names of about 1,000 Manx school children feature in a mural on the tarmac

A mural featuring the names of hundreds of pupils, a new podium, finish lines and signs explaining the cyclist's successes, are all set to be unveiled at the launch event.

The new artwork also includes a quote from the cycling legend reflecting on his experience from before childhood races.

It reads: "I dreamed of being like my heroes."

The Manx government said the project had been designed to celebrate Sir Mark's legacy by encouraging the next generation to take up the sport, while recognising the place where his journey began.

Andy Bell An aerial view of of the white and red mural featuring the names of hundreds of pupils on a stretch of grey tarmac and the red quote which reads "I dreamed of being like my heroes." An orange race track can be seen behind the artwork. A large tree can be seen in the foreground.Andy Bell
The raceway in Douglas will now be known at the Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway

The Manx Missile took part in a similar event in August by taking part in a lap of honour the first time he returned to the island after breaking the Tour de France record.

Police have confirmed traffic will be held in the area for a short period of time from 10:00 BST to allow a supervised parade of cyclists to "safely make their way" from the sports centre entrance to the raceway.

Motorists have been warned to expect "slight disruption to traffic" in the area of Groves Road and Pulrose Road and encouraged to allow extra time for their journeys and consider alternative routes.

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