Mark Cavendish is in the Caribbean to take on some of cycling's other top stars in the Amstel Curacao Race tomorrow.

The Manx Missile lines up against his big sprint rival and Tour de France Green Jersey winner Thor Hushovd, Tour de France Yellow Jersey winner Alberto Contador, Edvald Boassen Hagen and the Schleck brothers, Frank and Andy, among others.

The event - now in its eighth year - is described as the "Pro Bowl" of cycling, in reference to the NFL's end-of-season game when the best american footballers go head-to-head in a one-off match.

Meanwhile France's Eurosport magazine has named Cav their cyclist of the year, ahead of Contador.

This further recognition of his stellar season comes just a couple of weeks after he was awarded the prestigious International Flandrian of the Year prize at a televised ceremony in Belgium.