World champion in 2011, multiple Tour de France stage winner and former holder of the green jersey, Mark Cavendish is not just Britain’s best sprinter but arguably one of the best ever.

The Manx Missile will be showcasing the British champion’s jersey in California having opted to miss the Giro d’Italia during the build up to the Tour de France Grand Depart.

Desperate to wear the yellow jersey with victory on stage one of the 101st Tour, Cavendish will be keen to show the form which has seen him bounce back from illness with two victories at this year’s Tour of Turkey.

Outspoken he may be, but the Manxman seems a good fit to inspire an American sporting audience.

His phenomenal sprinting talent has marked him as a true sporting great and even those who can not grasp the concept of the peloton and the break know a great kick for the line when they see one.

Furthermore, in a country which has almost adopted David and Victoria Beckham as their own, Cav and former page-three model wife Peta could be cycling’s own Posh and Becks.

There are plenty of opportunities for the sprinters in California, with Cav himself a three-time former stage winner.

If he replicates the form he has shown in Turkey, you would certainly not bet against him adding to such a tally in America next month.