"People say 'I got into cycling because of you'. That is the proudest thing" - Mark Cavendish reflects on wider impact of his career

There's little doubt that Mark Cavendish will go down as one of the most influential riders of his generation A record breaker on the bike and the catalyst for the influx of British stars in the peloton, the Manxman has been reflecting on his career.

"I think the greatest joy I get is... I cannot deny that people say 'I got into cycling because of you'. That is the proudest thing I get from my career, you know," Cavendish tells Adam Blythe of Eurosport. "It gives the essence of what we do as sports people. At the end of the day, we are all just getting on a bicycle and trying to be the first to cross a finish line: it doesn't really make sense when you think about it. But other people can dream to go and cross that finish line first."

When asked if his own children look up to him, "Ah, yes - and it makes me really proud. It is special; it really is," he says with a smile. "They get inspired by cyclists, they watch the World Cup and my boy has got a (Lionel) Messi kit now. Seeing them and how they look up to other sports people and cyclists, like Casper is obsessed with Wout van Aert. He loves Julian Alaphilippe. He loves Tadej Pogacar. He knows about them and he spots them in the peloton."

"You know that other kids are doing that, and not just other kids - adults are doing that, and you realise what it is that you do," he continues. "It is irrelevant how you have done it, whether you win races or pull wheelies, it doesn't matter. I prefer the winning races!"