It's the Cav show

It's the Mark Cavendish show over here in the Tour de France and I mustsay the folk who have crossed the Channel are becoming quite unbearableat the success of their British superstar.

It's the Mark Cavendish show over here in the Tour de France and I must say the folk who have crossed the Channel are becoming quite unbearable at the success of their British superstar.

Don't get me wrong, they have every right to be cocky given it's been more than a decade since Chris Boardman ruled the roads and dominated the sports pages in the Fleet Street press.

I've never been able to work out why Britain hasn't produced more champions given the country's close proximity to continental Europe.

Even their Irish neighbours have enjoyed more success with Stephen Roche and Sean Kelly lighting up the podium in the 1980s.

Britain's success on the track has been well documented at all international levels - from the Olympic Games to the World Championships, the Brits are almost second-to-none.

I'm sure I'll attract a wave of criticism when I suggest cycling's environment has shifted from the track to the road in the last decade.

I feel there is less interest in racing on the velodrome to what we're seeing on the road with events such as the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Tour Down Under.

I mean the anticipation for the Tour begins weeks and months in advance, while few people would even remotely know when and where the track cycling world titles are held every year, even when are taking place.

The track scene is dominated by few nations, but it's a different situation on the professional road scene.

I'm personally wrapped to see Japanese rider Yukiya Arashiro crack it for a top 5 finish in the stage two sprint won by Cav.

In fact, I'd welcome a new generation of cyclists from Japan in the Tour in coming years, similar to the Aussie invasion of the late 90s and early 2000s as there is a great deal of media interest from that part of the world here in France.

For now I'm loving the Cav show. He's a great sportsman, a terrific showman and has got some mongrel to boot.

I have no doubt we're seeing a legend in the making.