The Great Britain Olympic Academy coach's most well-known protégé Mark Cavendish won the fifth stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday.

Now widely acknowledged as the fastest sprinter in the world, 23-year-old Manxman Cavendish was part of the Academy and is still coached, mentored and managed by Rod.

Riding for team Columbia, Cavendish outsprinted the world's best at the end of the Tour's longest stage from Cholet to Chateauroux.

Rod was at the start line and saw Cavendish before the riders set off.

He said: "There wasn't much I could say to him. He wants it real bad and was saying all the right things. I'm happy for him and it's good for British cycling.

"We knew it was going to happen. He has learned so much from his last year."

Despite Cavendish riding for a professional team, Rod still has an input on his training to balance his efforts on track and road.

Rod said: "I set peformance targets and liaise with his team, but everthing is mainly driven by what Mark wants. He is the fastest in the world, and he knows he is."

Rod had further cause for celebration this week with the announcement of the 24-strong Great Britain cycling team for the Beijing Olympics next month.

Six of his Academy charges will be competing on the road and in the velodrome.

Cavendish will team up with Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins in the madison on the track, and Geraint Thomas, Ed Clancy and Steven Burke will be part of the team pursuit squad.

Jonathan Bellis and Ben Swift will contest the men's road race.
Rod said: "When the programme started in 2004, the target was to get two riders to the Olympics, now we have got six. It has been hugely successful. I'm pretty chuffed."