Teamwork enables Cavendish to land world title in style

The 26-year-old produced a trademark burst to cross the line ahead of Australia’s Matt Goss and German Andre Greipel after Team GB’s eight-man line-up had set the pace at the front of the peloton throughout the 266km race and then made space for Cavendish to hit the front when it mattered most.

Cavendish won the 2011 Tour de France green points jersey and is now favourite to deliver what would be Britain’s first gold of next summer’s Games.

The Isle of Man racer was quick to pay tribute to his industrious team-mates – Steve Cummings, Chris Froome, Bradley Wiggins, Jeremy Hunt, David Millar, Ian Stannard and Geraint Thomas – who all played their part in him becoming Britain’s first world road champion since Tom Simpson in 1965.

“This has been three years in the making.

“When this course was announced we put a plan together to come with the best group of guys to come and bring the rainbow jersey back to Britain,” said Cavendish.

“The guys have worked so hard to collect points throughout the season to get eight riders here – they rode incredible and I am so proud.

“A world title is something special and I’m going to wear the rainbow jersey with pride over the next year.

“London 2012 is the biggest goal for us, and hopefully we can make the double with the Olympics next year.”

Froome had helped close down what was at one stage a seven-minute lead for a breakaway group at 105km, before Belgium’s Johan van Summeren then made an attack as he took five men clear of the chasing peloton.

The British riders all avoided a crash which involved France’s Blel Kadri and saw the likes of Frank Schleck and defending world champion Thor Hushovd held up.

With one lap to go of 14km, world time trial silver medallist Wiggins took things on before Stannard and Geraint Thomas did their stint.

American Tyler Farrar hit the front as Cavendish appeared boxed in before his team-mates again selflessly opened up the space for the Manxman to deliver his trademark sprint for the line.

Cavendish’s victory capped a fine championships for the British squad as a whole.

Wiggins had claimed silver medal in the elite men’s time trial, and Leicestershire teenager Lucy Garner won the junior women’s race.

Olympic champion Nicole Cooke narrowly missed out on a medal when she finished fourth in the women’s road race.

Otley’s 23-year-old Lizzie Armitstead also enjoyed a spell in the lead bunch, before finishing a creditable seventh.

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