Cav pens new HTC-Columbia deal

Mark Cavendish has put an end to speculation about his future by signing a two-year contract extention with HTC-Columbia.

The Manx Missile has another year left on his current deal with the California-based team, but has long been targeted by Team Sky.

On the latest occasion, just last week, Team Sky's manager Dave Brailsford, who's also British Cycling's Performance Director, said he wanted to sign the 25-year-old Manxman after seeing him win five stages at the Tour de France last month.

"Who wouldn’t want Cav?’ said Brailsford. "He's one of the biggest names in the sport, if not the biggest."

Cavendish's fellow Columbia-HTC sprinter Andre Griepel has seemingly had enough of playing second fiddle to him though.

The 28-year-old German, who claimed ahead of this year's Tour de France that he was faster than Cav, will have the chance to prove it next year following the announcement that he is moving to Omega Pharma-Lotto at the end of the season.