The Chief Minister has expressed the pride of the Manx nation after Cavendish competed.

Allan Bell said: ‘On behalf of the people of the Isle of Man, I would like to say how proud we are of Mark’s performance this afternoon. We were all glued to our televisions and cheering him on. He gave it everything, as he always does, but unfortunately it was not to be on this occasion.

‘I know Mark is the ultimate competitor and will be disappointed not to have won gold, but he is still Britain’s most successful cyclist of all-time and a real hero in the Isle of Man.

‘We have all watched with great delight in recent years as he has won World championships on the road and track, gold at the Commonwealth Games, 23 stages of the Tour de France, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, and been awarded an MBE.

‘By winning titles all over the world and taking part at the Olympics, Mark has proved what our young people can achieve if they have the ability, determination and support, and I hope others will follow his shining example.’

Another Manx rider, World champion and World record holder Peter Kennaugh, has medal ambitions in the men’s team pursuit next week.

Mr Bell added: ‘Everybody in the Isle of Man will now be throwing their full support behind Peter when he competes at the London Velodrome.’

Meanwhile, students and staff at Ballakermeen High School, where Cavendish was a pupil, were rooting for the ‘Manx Missile’.

Headteacher Adrienne Burnett said he was a ‘young man with many years of further opportunities to come’.

She described his ‘single-mindedness and dedication’ as ‘remarkable’ and a ‘terrific example to our students’.