Cav's first mentor Dot Tilbury calls for him to be knighted

British sprint ace will retire at end of season after highly decorated 17-year career

- Tom Thewlis 

After Mark Cavendish's announcement that he will retire from professional cycling at the end of the season, Dot Tilbury, his first mentor, has called for him to receive a knighthood for his contribution to the sport.

Speaking to CW ahead of his stage win at the Giro, Tilbury - who organises national children's cycling league sessions on the Isle of Man - said that Cavendish had made a huge contribution to cycling on the island and that she believes it deserves recognition.

"He should be knighted," Tilbury said.

"Without a doubt. He has such pulling power and provides such inspiration for kids cycling here. They love him." Tilbury first met Cavendish at a cycling league session held in the island's National Sports Centre [NSC] and explained that the volume of young riders he has inspired to take up the sport is "unprecedented", especially since 2011.

"The year he won the green jersey in the Tour for the very first time, the following year we had 672 young riders sign on for the sessions we had at the NSC, such was the inspiration that he sparked among young cyclists here," Tilbury said. "Of those 672, I think only a small number rode once and then didn't come again.