Despite Cavendish’s new sprint train struggling at times this year, the Manxman has continued to prove himself as one of cycling’s greatest ever sprinters. While he only secured the red jersey on the final day of the Giro, his five stage wins meant his success was fully deserved. Even struggling with illness at the Tour de France, he stormed to two stage wins, including victory on stage 13, which proved his ability as a world-class rider, not just as a sprinter.

Away from the Grand Tours, Cav has also been in imperious form, with the addition of Alessandro Petacchi to his sprint train helping him to three stage victories at the Tour of Britain. Overall victory at the Tour of Qatar was also earned courtesy of four consecutive stage wins. That he achieved much of this while the OPQS train was being criticised, only highlights just how good a sprinter the British national champion is – lead-out or no lead-out. His star may have faded slightly, but in a straight-up sprint the Manx Missile is still unrivalled.