Cav’s got an ace up his sleeve
MARK CAVENDISH is convinced he has been dealt a good hand with Owain Doull as his partner for the London Six Day event next month.
The pairings were announced this week, with Manx sprint king Cavendish and
Wales’s Olympic champion Doull an eyecatching team for the prestigious multidiscipline indoor event.
And Cavendish is convinced the duo hold all the aces – because they have bonded over a game of Monopoly Deal.
Cavendish (below) said: “I’ve known Owain for a while, we have been teammates and raced a Madison [two-man relay race] and a Grand Prix together in Belgium.
“I think it will help in London because you will go the extra mile for someone that you are pals with.
“But I didn’t get to really know Owain until I spent time with him at one of our training camps – he was with another Welsh lad, Luke Rowe – and he brought a game of Monopoly Deal with him.
“It’s based loosely on the board game of the same name that everyone knows – but this is cards. I was shown the ropes and we had good laugh.
“I don’t know why it is but the Manx always seem to get on well with the Welsh – and we haven’t looked back since.”
A couple of nasty crashes and a virus stopped Cavendish from competing in the London Six Day event 12 months ago.
He partnered Sir Bradley Wiggins in the 2016 renewal, and Peter Kennaugh in 2017, finishing second on both occasions.
Cavendish, who is eyeing the Madison at the Tokyo Olympics, has no doubts about his colleague’s ability to help him land an elusive first London Six Day crown.
He said: “He’s an Olympic champion and I’ve seen him in the Veulta Espana so I’ve got no doubts about his pedigree.”
The Six Day series, which has seen events hosted in Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Denmark and the UK, has become a fiercely competitive feature on the global cycling calendar.
Cavendish, 34, added: “For me, it’s the Blue Riband event of track cycling.
“It combines everything – technical, tactical and there is a team element.”
Cavendish, who missed the Tour de France in a shock omission from the Team Dimension Data squad, gets the chance to once again lock horns with Italian pal Elia Viviani, the sport’s most in-form sprinter.
Cavendish said: “Away from the track it won’t stop our friendship, but we have a rivalry that will be exciting to watch.”
Six Day London returns to the velodrome in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from October 22-27 for more world class track cycling amidst a party atmosphere. Tickets from £19 at ticketmaster.co.uk/sixdaylondon