Manx cycling star Mark Cavendish has been included in the nine strong High Road Sports team for the Tour de France.

It will be the Laxey rider's second appearance in the premier race on the calendar after an unlucky debut 12 months ago.

He will be hoping to build on his fine form at the recent Giro d'Italia, regarded as second only to Le Tour in terms of importance, where he won two stages and handed another victory to a team-mate.

Cavendish has already recorded seven professional wins this season, and taken his career tally to 18 in less than two years at the top level.

Along with Bradley Wiggins, he is the current World Madison Track Champion, and is expected to compete in the discipline at the forthcoming Beijing Olympic Games.

With that goal in mind, it is not certain whether Cav will complete the Tour de France.

Meanwhile, the Isle of Man rider is in North Yorkshire this weekend to compete in the British National Road Race Championship over a 203 kilometre route. Other Manxies riding in Sunday's event are Graeme Hatcher, Jonny Bellis and Peter Kennaugh Junior.