Mark Cavendish has been confirmed to ride in the 2018 HSBC UK National Road Championships which take place in Northumberland next week.
British Cycling has announced that the Dimension Data rider will compete in the road race on Sunday, July 1 before heading to the Tour de France where the Manx Missile will be looking to add to his 30 career stage wins at the Grand Tour.
Cavendish has enjoyed plenty of success at the national championships over the past few years, most notably winning the red, white and blue champion’s jersey in Glasgow in 2013.
He has also been on the podium on two further occasions since: in 2015 when finishing second in 2015 behind fellow Manxman Peter Kennaugh, and also in 2016.
Kennaugh is also expected to ride in the 2018 championships and he will be hoping to become the first person to win the British national title on three occasions, having also graced the top step of the podium in 2014.
Cavendish and Kennaugh join a formidable-looking field for this year’s championships, including defending men’s road race and time trial champion Steve Cummings, multiple Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey; Olympic, world and Commonwealth track champion Katie Archibald and triple Olympic champion Ed Clancy.
It remains to be seen which other Manx cyclists take part in the event - which starts next Thursday with the time trials - but there will hopefully be a healthy Isle of Man presence in Northumberland.
The road race action will be broadcast on ITV, with highlights of the women’s road race and live culmination of the men’s race being shown from 3pm on Sunday, July 1.
The programme will then be available on the ITV Hub for 27 days after the event.