Cavendish is toast of sporting world

The Tour de France hero claimed four times as many votes as runner-up Darren Clarke.

The 26-year-old received 50 per cent of the overall vote with a total of almost 170,000 compared to 42,000 for the runner-up golfer.

It’s already been hailed as the greatest ever achievement by a Manxman.

Reaction has been flooding in all night with Chief Minister Allan Bell congratulating Cavendish immediately after his triumph.

Chairman of Isle of Man Sport Geoff Karran says the former Ballakermeen student’s achievement hasn’t come a moment too soon (see audio).

In his victory speech, the World Road Racing Champion said: "I'm absolutely speechless, really. A few of my team-mates are here and they'll say that's a rare thing! 

"Without these guys this wouldn't be close to possible. I'd like to thank them, everyone who supports me, my girlfriend and her little bump. Just even to be nominated in the top 10 this year in such an incredible year in British sport, that we can produce so many champions from such a small place, I really am lost for words. 

"Thank you to everyone at home who has voted. This is a landmark in cycling, and I take this on behalf of cycling. For cycling to be recognised in a non-Olympic year, a few years ago would be unheard of, yet it's happened. 

"Now I see so many people out riding bikes, commuting to work or doing it as a hobby, they can see what it's like to ride. We're so great as a country in sport because we put so much in and you see the returns. Thank you everyone, thank you. It's an honour."

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