Cavendish admits staying power will also be crucial at Six Day London

After winning World Championship Madison gold medals in 2005 and 2008 – as well as the 2006 Commonwealth Games Scratch race title – Cavendish turned his attentions to the road.

And he hasn’t looked back since, going on to win 26 Tour de France stages to put him third on the all-time list and fourth on the all-time list of Grand Tour stage winners with 44 victories.

With each Tour de France lasting around three weeks, Cavendish has had to dig deep to get to where he is today, and the 30-year-old insists those taking part in Six Day London at the LeeValley VeloPark will have to do the same if they are to have any hopes of finishing on the podium.

“To race over six days is a difficult thing to do,” he said. “There are not so many Six Day races anymore and this is the first one back in London after 30 years so it is quite important and it is at the Olympic Velodrome and I think the riders that come will definitely be in it to win it."

“It is always nice to stand on top of the podium and after a gruelling event over six days it makes it even more sweet."

“A good Six Day racer must first of all have good endurance. Six Day racing started off as an endurance event."

“They used to ride six days non-stop but now they ride every night for six nights but endurance is still the biggest thing."

“And you have to be adaptable to different events. It is not just the Madison events, there are eliminations events, there are Scratch races, there are sprints too, so to adapt to different events is quite important."

“And obviously in two-man teams you have to really get on with your teammate and you have to learn how each other will ride and adapt to that.”

Six Day races remain very popular in mainland Europe, with historic events such as Ghent and Berlin being favourites, but it was in Islington, London that Six Day Racing was first invented, back in 1878.

A lot has happened between now and then but Cavendish is adamant the excitement remains the same.

“Six Day racing is something different,” he added. “Track races are normally about four minutes long, maximum an hour long."

“So to do multiple track events overnight for six nights it becomes a real endurance event and that is why Six Day racing started a hundred years ago."

“Over the years it has evolved and it is more than just the cycling, it has become a social event and is a show now and it is like going to a gig."

“I was planning to ride but I can’t because I have an injury, but I will still be coming here to enjoy the entertainment.”

Six Day London is at Lee Valley VeloPark between 18-23 Oct - tickets now on sale at www.sixday.com. Come and see the world's best track cyclists in action and be part of an electric party atmosphere at London's Olympic Velodrome.