The organiser of yesterday’s Hamper Race has told 3FM how his jaw dropped when he received a phone call from non other than the world champion asking if he could take part in the event - just 10 minutes before it started.
Brian Johnson of Manx Viking Wheelers told us about the sheer disbelief of people when they heard Mark Cavendish was about to turn up, and the excited among the junior riders when they lined up alongside the global superstar on the start line.
Mr Johnson said no one had any idea Cavendish was even back home, let alone en route to the local event with his bike on the car rack.
But, as Mr Johnson explains, the Sports Personality of the Year almost missed the start of the race because of a location mix-up (see audio).
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