The Manx Missile won’t be defending his Scheldeprijs title in Belgium today (Wednesday) – and he has good reason!

Mark Cavendish and girlfriend Peta Todd have become parents.

Delilah Grace Cavendish was born last night.

Cavendish says it’s the happiest day of his life and he’s so proud of his girls.

Yesterday, he told the Guardian newspaper: ‘Her room's ready. Her stuff's ready. Her mum's ready. I'm more than ready and I've got three-and-a-half weeks at home so it works out perfect. It's already changed me. It's made me more motivated than ever.’

Cavendish is expected to return to competition for Team Sky at the Tour de Romandie, on April 24.