Mark Cavendish

And look at how succesful those footballers were!!

It wouldn't bother me if he bought a pink elephant which could dance the lambada and make a mean G&T. He's paid to do a job and generally does it brilliantly. As notfastenough says, if you compare him with a footballer in terms of ratio of salary to effort put in, he would be a relative bargain

Good on him. He admitted in an interview I read that he is paid more than the average premiership footballer, but the effort and sacrifices these guys make dwarf anything a footballer does, and Cav in particuar is far from average.

Mark has many plus points but in a recent interview he revealed he owns five cars and has a £170,000 McLaren MP4 on order. I'm not so sure about him now.

Mark Cavendish is anything but a boring interviewee (and I've had to endure plenty of the latter in my time, both in person and second hand).

Intelligent, articulate, provides great insight into exactly what makes a pro cyclist of his calibre tick and how the sport works.

Yeah, he can be short with journos who ask what he thinks is a dumb question... not a mistake you ever make twice

He wont be at Sky next season, simples.

I haven't changed opinion of him, still a twat imo .... with not a clue in front of the camera ..

I don't think Cav would have to take a full year out, just work on his TTing/Prologue speed a bit over the next few years and then possibly take half a year (including the TdF) off before the Olympics. Geraint Thomas was riding on the road up to the Giro really and taking it seriously but also fitting in World Cup events and the World Champs around his Team Sky schedule.

That would be the major benefit of staying at Sky, being able to work his race schedule around his track aspirations.

31 isn't that old either, Ed Clancy would be that old in Rio and Wiggins would be 35. Wiggins in particular if he keeps his TT form up would be able to walk a place in the team pursuit squad. He's been quoted in the past as comparing his time out from the road when's been doing track work as similar to a holiday compared to his normal workload.

Oh and another thing.

I really dont think he will be in Rio. I think he has got caught up in the emotion and love of it. Cav is an emotional guy afterall.

If he was to ride team pursuit he would have to have almost a year out of the peloton, that doesnt work for me. He has too many records to be chasing and going for and in 4 years time, well, he is 4 years older (i.e 31), which means potentially;

Tour de France:- If he has a year out he could be only a couple of stage wins behind Eddy Mercx record. If he is to move to OPQS then this may not be bad. If he is at Sky (which i highly doubt) then that 1 seaosn in 2016 could be crucial.

Giro d'Italia:- The won points jersey eluding him to join an exclusive club.

Vuelta:- Not really his priority, but, given his respect for GT's if entered could potentially be up there with Jalabert & Kelly (although I doubt it)

MsR:- Multiple winner? I certainly think he can be.

GW:- Again, can he take it?

4 years is a long time in cycling but to overtake the Cannibal for stages at the Tour is something! I just cant see him taking a year out if the record is close.

I know the missing Olympic medal hurts him, but I think Tour stages would hurt him more.

His co-presenting has been class. More relaxed and really enthusiastic and funny.

Love the guy.

I've never been particularly anti-Cav but I think he's really added something to the track cycling coverage, in particular I love his explanations of the races:

Jake: Mark, explain the elimination race to the viewers
Mark: Well, it's a race where people get eliminated...

Class.

If he manages to force his way into the Pursuit squad for Rio and gets a gold he's probably got a decent post-racing career as an expert on the TV a'la Boardman.

Same.
He changed for me after he won at Champs Elysees.

I used to think he was a bit "meh", but after that, he's actually SICK.

Can't wait to see him in the TP squad for Rio.