The Manx Missile is Team GB’s first medal hope in tomorrow’s 250km cycling road race. Cavendish is hot favourite as the flat finish suits his blistering pace.

But he will depend on team-mates Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, David Millar and Ian Stannard to pace and protect him on a course that includes nine laps of Surrey’s brutal Box Hill.

Cavendish said: “In training, I looked around to see this dream team. We were out together yesterday and we were buzzing”.

“It could not be a better selection; I’m so pleased with the squad”. “Who better to have there than the Tour de France winner?”

Wiggins won the Tour but helped Cavendish triumph in the final stage on the Champs Elysees six days ago.

Cavendish said, “That was fantastic but the whole team are fully focused on London 2012, with Wiggins out to win the Time Trial next week”.

“We are all incredibly motivated and patriotic and all loyal to each other”.

“We are among the best riders in the world. This is definitely the biggest race of my life, in emotional terms at least” he added.

Cavendish knows the climbs could scupper his chances.

He said, “In a way, our biggest allies will be other sprint teams who want to get the same kind of finish as we do”.

“It’s the climbers who could cause problems if they open up a gap on the hills”.

“If everything goes to plan, we’ll be able to start each climb at the front and control the race”.

“The finish is perfect for me; I just need to get in that sweet spot.”