Cavendish crowned World Champion

Mark Cavendish has been crowned the 2011 World Road Racing Champion after a thrilling 266km race around Copenhagen.

Team Britain looked always in control and always steady in delivering their man, the man from the Isle of Man to the finish line in first position.

Cavendish illustrated that he didn’t need his favoured lead-out man Mark Renshaw to win a race, however perhaps it was silver medallist and Australian rider Matthew Goss that might have needed him there.

It was bittersweet for Goss, the victor of the Milan San Remo classic earlier this year who edged closer to Cav near the ned, but it was not enough.

The end came down a bunch sprint with bodies and argy bargy riders competing for a perfect placement of their sprinters.

While the men (Cavendish, Goss and German Andre Greipel) took their place on the podium and given flowers by the fashionably questionable Crown Prince Frederick who wore a lovely shade of red pants, the anthem was performed to commemorate the new World champion.

Defending champion, Norwegian Thor Hushovd appeared to not have a look in to protect his title after being separated from the likes of the main contenders.

Even Philippe Gilbert couldn’t find a way to show off his skills, being boxed in during the finishing sprint.

So it seems that it was Cavendish that pulled another trick from his helmet to secure victory.

Congratulations goes out to the Manx Missile, and also to our Aussie rider, Matt Goss.