Latest news with #ManxMissile
ITV News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Sir Mark Cavendish makes triumphant return to Isle of Man after raceway named in his honour
ITV Granada's sports correspondent Chris Hall speaks to Sir Mark Cavendish as he relaunches the raceway renamed in his honour Sir Mark Cavendish has returned to the Isle of Man raceway where he fell in love with cycling as a young boy, to see it renamed in his honour. Children from every school in the Island were on hand for the launch of the Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway at the National Sports Centre in Douglas, which marks the culmination of a community project involving thousands of young people. During the event, Sir Mark completed a timed lap of the 1km circuit before joining hundreds of children for a celebratory ride-out. He unveiled a new podium, a custom finish line, permanent signage, and a giant woven quote bearing the words: 'I dreamed of being like my heroes'. A large artwork featuring the names of pupils from every Isle of Man school was also revealed. Sir Mark and his children searched for their own names among them. 'I love this place,' he added. 'We're so lucky with what we have in the Isle of Man - the NSC, the facilities, the support. I wouldn't be where I am without it.'The project aims to celebrate Sir Mark's legacy by encouraging the next generation to follow their dreams as he did, while recognising the place where his extraordinary journey began. The pupils were joined by members of Sir Mark's former cycling club to watch the Manx Missile complete a timed 'hot lap' of the 1km circuit, before joining him for a special ride-out ceremony also involved a giant artwork featuring the names of hundreds of pupils which was unveiled, alongside a new podium, custom finish line, and permanent signage. The display centres on an inspirational quote: 'I dreamt of being like my heroes.', drawn from Sir Mark's own reflections before childhood races, and it helps to inspired the entire project. Children have played a creative role throughout — nominating their own heroes, designing banners, and submitting questions for Sir Mark, with a number of lucky pupils being selected to interview him about his life and Mark said: 'I fell in love with cycling right here. It's where it all began for me, so it's a very special place. "I am deeply moved by the thought and detail that has gone into every element." Sir Mark turned professional at 18 and claimed 165 career wins, including a record 35 Tour de France stage victories, making him one of the most decorated riders in cycling history. Daphne Caine MHK, Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, said: 'This exciting project shows that with belief and determination, anything is possible. Sir Mark is a fantastic role model, and young people are truly at the heart of this — just as he wished.' Deborah Heather, CEO of Visit Isle of Man, added: 'This place played a key role in Sir Mark's journey — and we're thrilled to help tell that story to the world. Imagine having the golf club where Tiger Woods first played golf or the football pitch where Lionel Messi scored his first goal – the Isle of Man has something very special and this project honours it.'
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Isle of Man: Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway to be officially unveiled
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 cycleway at the National Sports Centre in Douglas was where the Manx Missile first started cycling competitively as a 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 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 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 new artwork also includes a quote from the cycling legend reflecting on his experience from before childhood 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. 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 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 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. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Raceway to be renamed to honour Sir Mark Cavendish this month
The raceway at the National Sports Centre will be officially renamed after Sir Mark Cavendish later this month, the government has cycleway in the Isle of Man's capital was where the Tour de France stage win record holder first started cycling competitively as a event on 27 June will see Sir Mark complete a timed "hot lap" of the 0.6-mile (1km) circuit, before school children and members of his former cycling club join him for a ride-out Manx Missile, who will officially open the newly renamed raceway, said it was "where it all began for me, so it's a very special place". The 39-year-old became the most successful stage winner in Tour de France history in July last year when he took his 35th victory, having claimed 135 career project has 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, a government spokesman said. The project includes a mural featuring the names of hundreds of pupils as well as a new podium, finish lines and signage, which would also be unveiled at the launch by a quote from the cyclist reflecting on his experience before childhood races "I dreamt of being like my heroes", the line is featured in the Mark said the raceway was where he "fell in love with cycling" and the was "deeply moved by the thought and detail that has gone into every element" of the project has seen children nominate their own heroes, design banners and submit questions for the event, with a select few chosen to interview him about his life and cycling legend took part in a similar event last summer when he participated in a lap of honour on the first time he returned to the island after breaking the Caine, Education, Sport and Culture Minister said the cyclist was a "fantastic role model" adding that "young people are truly at the heart of this". Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
