Cycling ace Cavendish makes switch to Sky

LONDON - Agence France-Presse

In this file photo from Dec 22, 2011, Mark Cavendish poses after being awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Cavendish will ride for Team Sky in 2012. AP photo

Tour de France green jersey winner Mark Cavendish will ride for Team Sky in 2012, the British squad announced yesterday.

The Isle of Man rider, who won five stages on last year’s Tour, has been recruited from HTC-Highroad along with Bernhard Eisel, Danny Pate and Kanstantsin Siutsou, four of eight new additions in the 28-man roster.

Cavendish will be one of 10 British cyclists in the Sky team along with Criterium du Dauphine winner and three-time Olympic gold medalist Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Jeremy Hunt, Peter Kennaugh, Alex Dowsett, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard and Ben Swift.

Team principal Dave Brailsford said: “With Mark Cavendish joining, we have a hugely talented squad of riders with proven ability at the very highest level of our sport.”