Isle of Man Government – ‘Inspirational’ Mark Cavendish receives King’s Birthday Honours

• Sir Mark was knighted for his services to cycling and charity work
• Athlete hailed as ‘hero’ and ‘inspiration’ by first cycling coach
• First Minister congratulates Isle of Man Missile Company on knighthood
• Skipper Stephen Carter and TT legend Richard “Milkie” Quayle were also honored

Champion cyclist Mark Cavendish has been awarded the King’s Birthday Honours.

Just a few weeks ago, the 39-year-old broke 164^day His career victories make him the most successful male sprint cyclist of all time.

MHK Chief Minister Alfred Cannan said:

“Sir Mark was an outstanding sportsman, role model and ambassador for the sport and the Isle of Man. He played at the highest level for more than a decade and his achievements were a real inspiration to us all.”

“As a country, the Isle of Man is proud of the strength of its cycling and works hard to create an environment that nurtures talent and allows our young people to flourish. It is extremely satisfying to see Sir Mark rise through our junior cycling ranks and succeed at the highest level.”

Sir Mark is the first Manx man to be knighted since comedian Sir Norman Wisdom 24 years ago.

He is currently racing in Switzerland, again targeting the record for single stage wins at this summer’s Tour de France. The Isle of Man rider equaled Eddy Merckx’s long-standing record after overcoming injury in 2021 and nearly broke it in 2023 before being forced to withdraw from the race with a broken collarbone.

Dot Tilbury, 74, is Cavendish’s first coach and leads children’s cycling at the National Sports Centre (NSC), a position she has held for more than 30 years.

she says:

“When I coached Mark I had no doubt he would achieve amazing things. Everyone on the Isle of Man, from the little kids to the grandmothers, is proud of his achievements. He has inspired many children to think that you don’t have to be from the big city to pursue what you want in life.”

Captain Stephen Carter, also a resident of the Isle of Man, and TT legend Richard “Milkie” Quayle were also included in the King’s Birthday List. Captain Carter was awarded an MBE for “distinguished services to maritime safety and the community”, while former TT champion Quayle received a Member of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for his “outstanding services to road racing”.