Manx star Mark Cavendish is one of the cyclists attracting the biggest amount of attention from the media ahead of Saturday's start of the Tour de France.
The Laxey rider has already recorded seven professional wins this season, and taken his career tally to 18 in less than two years at the top level.
He is now widely regarded as the fastest sprint finisher in the world.
Deputy Editor of Pro Cycling magazine Ellis Bacon says a great deal has changed since his rookie debut in the Tour de France a year ago:-
The Tour de France gets underway on Saturday from Brest in Brittany with a full stage of 197.5 kilometers, rather than the usual shorter prologue start.
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