IT seems that one of the most talked-about transfers in the world of cycling is about to come to fruition.
Manx cycling superstar Mark Cavendish has left British-based Team Sky to join Belgan outfit Omega-Pharma Quickstep.
Following Bradley Wiggins’s heroics in the Tour de France earlier this year, when he became the first Briton to win the yellow jersey, Sky are focusing their efforts on more general classification success at the three Grand Tours.
As a result, Cav will not have a team of riders designed to give him the best possible chance of winning bunch sprints, therefore greatly diminishing his hopes of winning more points’ jerseys at the tours.
Speculation has been rife for several weeks now that the Manx Missile would leave Sky in order to find another team more suited to his talents, although it was reported that a 1.2 million Euros release fee in his contract could prove to be a stumbling block in any negotiations.
Last week’s furore surrounding Lance Armstrong had threatened to derail the move, with the effects of his apparent guilt being felt throughout cycling.
However, Team Sky confirmed on Thursday that the 23-time stage winner at the TdF has signed a three-year deal with Quickstep which will begin in 2013.
More in Monday’s Isle of Man Examiner.