In celebration of the Manx Missile, Sir Mark Cavendish KBE accepting the BBC Sport Personality of the Year lifetime achievement award, Isle of Man Post Office is pleased to announce the release of a special celebration postal tribute in recognition of the outstanding career of cycling legend Sir Mark Cavendish KBE.
The Manx Missile retired from professional cycling earlier this year after firmly establishing himself as one of the sport’s all-time greats. In an almost 20-year career, Cav secured 165 wins, including a record-breaking 35 stage wins at the iconic Tour de France.
To commemorate his incredible achievements, Isle of Man Post Office has released a commemorative sheetlet featuring the Manx-born sporting legend.
The colourful sheetlet contains eight stamps depicting highlights from Cav’s career, including some of his greatest victories and competing at the Olympic Games.
Born in the Isle of Man, Cavendish began his racing life on the raceway at the National Sports Centre in the island’s capital city, Douglas. Always a proud Manxman, he has repeatedly displayed the national flag after taking victory and represented his country at the Island Games and Commonwealth Games.
Maxine Cannon, General Manager Stamps & Coins, said: “Sir Mark Cavendish KBE is one of the greatest sport stars of all time, smashing records and setting new standards during his 19-year professional career. It is fitting to mark the retirement of such a legend, and especially so for the Isle of Man Post Office to celebrate a Manx-born great.
‘This sheetlet brings together wonderful images of Cav at his competitive best, sprinting to victory and proudly celebrating his success. The island is immensely proud of Mark and everything he has achieved. This was perfectly demonstrated in August when the raceway where he began his career was renamed in his honour and so many members of the Manx community came out to pay tribute to our home-grown legend.
‘Isle of Man Post Office has celebrated highlights throughout this remarkable career and is proud to mark Cav’s retirement with this commemorative sheetlet.’
Although the final year of his career, Cav demonstrated in 2024 exactly why he is considered one of the greatest of all time by fellow competitors and fans alike. He rewrote the record books at the Tour de France when he secured his 35th stage win to eclipse the longstanding record of Eddy Merckx. He then brought the curtain down on his glittering professional career with a typically tenacious ride at his final race in Singapore, taking one last win.
Announcing his retirement, the 39-year-old said: “I am lucky enough to have done what I love for almost 20 years and I can now say that I have achieved everything that I can on the bike. Cycling has given me so much and I love the sport.”
For more information and to purchase this sheetlet, visit www.iompost.com/Cavendish
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