Qatar is six days of action on very flat, windy desert roads which will be a tough challenge for the Manxman although it has traditionally favoured sprinters.

Having worked hard through the winter, training at home and abroad he is now excited to get the season underway.

Cav said: “It’s been really good. I’ve had a solid winter and I want to perform all through this year”

Mark is keen to have success through the whole season and not just the high-profile four week block during the summer, repeating his success of 2009.

He added: “The last couple of seasons it’s always been about the Tour de France but now I want to repeat 2009 where I was successful throughout the whole season and I don’t want to be chasing July. I want to know exactly where I am in May and June so I can perform my best at the Tour de France and the Olympics.”

Mark is extremely happy with his new British team at a time when cycling has really taken off with the British public.

“It’s a good feeling to know I’m doing something to promote a sport that I love in the UK – it’s incredible to see and it warms me every time it happens.”

Team sky which was set up in 2009 now has ten British cyclists and is fronted by Dave Brailsford who said, “With Mark Cavendish joining riders like Bradley Wiggins, Geraint Thomas and Edvald Boasson Hagen, we have a hugely talented squad of riders with proven ability at the very highest level of our sport.”

“We made great strides in 2011, in what was our second season as a World Tour team. The challenge for all of us is to build on those achievements and become an even stronger and more successful team.”

Team Sky 2012: Davide Appollonio (ITA), Michael Barry (CAN), Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR), Mark Cavendish (GBR), Alex Dowsett (GBR), Bernhard Eisel (AUT), Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP), Chris Froome (GBR), Mathew Hayman (AUS), Sergio Henao (COL), Jeremy Hunt (GBR), Peter Kennaugh (GBR), Christian Knees (GER), Thomas Löfkvist (SWE), Lars-Petter Nordhaug (NOR), Danny Pate (USA), Richie Porte (AUS), Salvatore Puccio (ITA), Michael Rogers (AUS), Luke Rowe (GBR), Ian Stannard (GBR), Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR), Chris Sutton (AUS), Ben Swift (GBR), Geraint Thomas (GBR), Rigoberto Urán (COL), Bradley Wiggins (GBR), Xabier Zandio (ESP).

“It is the first medal on offer at the Olympic games. Everyone is looking at me and my team to deliver that first gold. It couldn’t be more fitting that I should have this accolade.”

The world road race champion who has a had an amazing year beat Open Champion Darren Clarke, who was second, and world 5,000m gold medallist Mo Farah in third.

Cavendish is only the third cyclist to lift the prestigious televised award after Tommy Simpson in 1965 and Sir Chris Hoy in 2008.

Talking about his achievements this year Mark said, “They were the two hardest goals I could possibly set myself in the year, but I had some great guys around me”.

Cavendish’s five stage wins at the 2011 Tour de France moved him to sixth on the all-time list on 20 behind legendary Belgian Eddie Merckx, who has 34, a target Cavendish has in his sights.

“I’m not chasing records, but I have collected an average of five a year so it is definitely doable if things carry on as they have been,” he said.

Cav polled 49.5 per cent of the 342,147 total votes in a landslide win. “It couldn’t be better,” he said. “In my professional team next year I am carrying the rainbow jersey which gives an added incentive to do well.”

Mark joined Dai Greene, Jonathan Trott, Chrissie Wellington, Rebecca Adlington, Andy Flower, Lawrence Dallaglio among others at the SJA’s.

Cavendish, Britain’s most successful Tour de France Rider, was voted Sportsman of the Year ahead of runner Mo Fara and Rory McIlroy.

He admitted it wasn’t his Tour de France stage wins which gave him most enjoyment in 2011 but winning the world road race with his British team mates. “The Tour de France is my day job” Mark said after being presented with his award by SJA President Sir Michael Parkinson.

“It’s what I’m paid for. In the World Championships I was racing for my national team. I pulled on the union Jack Jersey for pride. I was doing it to represent my country and that’s why it means so much.”

Cav has targeted Gold in the London next year and could win the first medal of the Games which would be a great start for Britain.

The shortlist (in alphabetical order) is: Mark Cavendish (cycling), Darren Clarke (Golf), Alastair Cook (cricket), Luke Donald (Golf), Mo Farah (athletics), Dai Greene (athletics), Amir Khan (boxing), Rory McIlroy (golf), Andy Murray (tennis), Andrew Strauss (cricket).

The shortlist was put together by a panel of sports editors from regional and national newspapers and magazines.

The evening will be presented by Sue Barker, Gary Lineker and Jake Humphrey and will be broadcast live on BBC One on the 22^nd December.

Mark has had a fantastic year receiving his MBE, winning the Green Jersey, becoming World Champion and is now considered as one of the favourites to win the Sports Personality of Year award. Cav is now starting to reap the rewards of cycling over 50,000km each year and is truly excited for the awards.

The ‘Manx Missile’ had a disappointing Olympic Games in Beijing, failing to win a medal, but is in the driving seat to claim the first gold medal of London 2012 in the men’s road race on the opening Saturday of the Games.

He receives the honour in a year which has seen him win the Green Jersey in the Tour de France and also claim victory in the world road race championships.

Afterwards when asked what he spoke to the Queen about he said, “We were talking about the Olympics and (my event) finishing on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace next year – I told her to give me a cheer when we come past.”

The evening hosted by James Corden and Kirsty Gallacher at the Savoy, celebrated some of the most inspirational British sporting performances over the past year.

Most Inspirational Sportsman of the Year, Mark Cavendish, commented:
“A complete surprise! When you see some of the names that were up for nomination, it’s pretty special. Cycling’s still a growing sport, and to be a cyclist and be inspirational, that’s a pretty big thing. For someone to watch what we do and actually appreciate it, which hasn’t always been the case in the past, that’s a big thing. It’s a lovely evening.”

The bike which has taken Mark to the top of the world is the Specialized S-Works + McLaren Venge. Cavendish began working with McLaren when it collaborated with Specialized in developing the Venge, mentioning that McLaren’s input had been crucial to the success of the project.

Hamilton and Button each ride Specialized bikes and admired the S-Works + McLaren Venge, which was produced after a long partnership between Specialized and McLaren Applied Technologies and is exhibited at McLaren’s Technology Centre. Outside the Formula 1 circuit, Button in particular is a cycling enthusiast and competes in triathlons around the world whenever his schedule permits

 “It was never thought of before, and it has been incredible working here with the (McLaren) guys and the guys at Specialized and seeing how this bike’s evolved. Obviously, I won the green jersey in the Tour de France this year, and the world championships on it. So the results can just speak for themselves…” Mark said.
 

In addition to 20 Tour de France stage wins, Cavendish has won a further 10 Grand Tour stages as well as the overall points title at the 2010 Vuelta a Espana. Along with these the ‘Manx Missile’ won the prestigious Milan-San Remo race, one of cycling’s recognised ‘Monuments’.

“Mark is the greatest sprinter of his generartion and is well on his way to becoming the greatest of all time. He is a rider of exceptional talent who has proved his pedigree at the very highest level of our sport” – Dave Brailsford, Team Sky Principal.

“I think I speak for everyone in the squad when I say that we’re all delighted to have Cav joining us at Team Sky. He is the best sprinter in the world and has an energy and passion for cycling that is infectious.” Said Bradley Wiggins to the news of Mark joining Team Sky.

As ‘Cav’ approached the final corner he seemed too far back even for a rider with 74 professional sprint wins in just five years. Working his way through the 80 man pack from tenth, the Manx Missile made a 70kmh dash for the line claiming Britains first men’s road-race gold since Tom Simpson in 1965.

After the race Mark hailed the GB team by saying, “There couldn’t have been another result after the way my team-mates rode…it’s a shame they can’t have a world champion’s jersey”.

“I had two goals this year: the green jersey (for the top sprinter at the Tour de France) and the World Championship” he said. Mark has achieved both and Gold at the 2012 Olympics in Londonwould be a remarkable hat-trick.