'Two angry Manxmen' Mark Cavendish and Peter Kennaugh team up for London Six Day
Isle of Man pair will combine to form a formidable duo at the London Six Day track event over October 24-29
Mark Cavendish will join forces with fellow Manxman Peter Kennaugh to race the London Six Day event at the end of October.
It will be Cavendish and Kennaugh's first appearance together at a pro Six Day event, with Cavendish joking on social media that it will be "two angry Manxmen together".
Despite being their first professional Six Day appearance together, it is far from the first time that the two riders have ridden together on the track.
The two frequently rode together in their formative years and have both been part of the Great Britain track set-up. Cavendish and Kennaugh won the 2008 Madison British national championship, and rode together in the Madison at the 2009 Track World Championships, where they finished sixth.
Having missed previous editions of the London Six due to team commitments, Kennaugh has found himself with available time to take part in the event after deciding to leave Team Sky and sign for Bora-Hansgrohe for 2018.
>>> Peter Kennaugh to leave Team Sky for Bora-Hansgrohe in 2018
“I’ve wanted to do a pro Six Day for so long and looking at Six Day London in the last couple of years I really wanted to be there – but Team Sky always had an end-of-season get together on at the same time,” Kennaugh said.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“But then this year, with moving teams, it’s given me the opportunity to do it and I’m really looking forward to it. I did a lot of Six Days as an Under-23 when I was on the British Cycling academy and have wanted to race a pro one ever since.”
Cavendish is still returning to full race fitness after crashing out of the Tour de France in July. He rode in the Tour of Britain, and recently placed sixth at the Grand Prix d'Isbergues in France but elected to miss the World Championships in Norway.
“To team up with Pete is going to be great fun, we go back a long way – I’ve already been chatting to him to talk tactics and to give him the low down," said Cavendish.
“Without doubt, we’re aiming for the win. It’s going to be tough racing over six days, but I don’t think either of us go into races thinking of anything other than how we can come out on top.”
Last year, Cavendish teamed up with Bradley Wiggins at the London Six, where the pair finished second overall behind Belgians Moreno de Pauw and Kenny de Ketele.
The 2017 London Six Day takes place at the Lee Valley VeloPark velodrome – venue for the London 2012 Olympic Games – over October 24-29.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
-
Mathieu van der Poel to race 11 cyclocross races this season, from the Zonohoven World Cup to the World Championships
Dutchman to defend his world title in northern France at beginning of February
By Adam Becket Published
-
We rode and reviewed the Ouray, Parlee Cycles' first new bike model since facing bankruptcy
The storied American brand continues with a Portugal-made carbon steed that goes zoom but doesn’t fit like a race bike
By Tyler Boucher Published
-
Tweets of the week: What's next for Mark Cavendish?
It's the question on everyone's lips
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'He understands speed' - Alex Dowsett hired as Astana Qazaqstan performance engineer, after Mark Cavendish recommendation
Brit part of new fleet brought in to bolster WorldTour squad
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Mark Cavendish wins final race and officially retires
'I couldn't have wished for a better send off,' says 39-year-old after sprinting to victory at the Singapore Criterium
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I have achieved everything that I can' - Mark Cavendish confirms retirement and final race
Brit chooses Sunday's Singapore Criterium for his swan song
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Demi Vollering rescues a goat, Mark Cavendish does martial arts, and Wout van Aert sings as a squirrel
It's been a particularly surreal week on social media
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'It's going to damage cycling in the UK' - Ned Boulting, David Millar and Pete Kennaugh react to ITV losing Tour de France rights
Channel's commentary team warn of 'devastating effect' of not having free-to-air race coverage
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins to reunite on the bike to raise money for US hurricane relief
The British knights will be joined by Jan Ullrich at the Gran Fondo Hincapie next week
By Adam Becket Published
-
'One of the boys thinks I’ll be walking about in armour': Mark Cavendish knighted in ceremony at Windsor Castle
Manxman says he was “nervous” after being made a Knight Commander by Prince William
By Tom Thewlis Published