The Manx Missile won in Glasgow last year, and will be keen to follow his success with his first road racing gold medal in August. Winner of the scratch race in Melbourne in 2006, Cavendish will race in Glasgow as favourite with a sprint finish expected in Glasgow Green. He has proved already he is more than capable over the route, which while it features several steep streets should prove no match for world cycling’s elite, and after missing out at London 2012 Cavendish will be desperate to make amends this time out.

Likely to be backed by Team Sky’s Olympic gold medalist, Peter Kennaugh, the Isle of Man boasts two of the strongest riders in the race, although like many of their rivals they will arrive at the Games on the back of their exertions during the Tour de France. Kennaugh was fourth at the national championships, having formed part of the successful day-long break early on, and could well perform a similar role to that which Cav’s Omega Pharma-Quickstep team-mate Andrew Fenn did last year. And if it comes to a sprint finish, Cavendish is simply the fastest man set to take the start line, making it hard to look beyond a Manx victory.