London 2012: Mark Cavendish eyes gold medal on The Mall

There is also no chance of any confusion over Britain’s tactics. As Millar said recently, setting Cavendish up for a sprint is “plan A, plan B and plan C”, which is fine, as they were the plans at last year’s World Championships, where those same four riders pointed “Cannonball Cav” at the finish line and let him do the rest.

But here’s the thing. Our fab five were an awesome eight in Copenhagen and controlling a 250km race is much, much easier with seven support riders than four.

There were also a few other teams keen on having a bunch sprint that day – a quick glance at the list of favourites for Saturday’s race, a list that is topped by an odds-on Cavendish, suggests there will not be so many willing to let the race arrive in central London en bloc.

And if that has not dampened your enthusiasm enough, let me point you to the history books. In the five Olympic races staged since professional riders were allowed in, none has been won by a pure sprinter.

The roll of honour – Samuel Sanchez, Paolo Bettini, Jan Ullrich, Pascal Richard and the late Fabio Casartelli – is a litany of strong, versatile riders able to get away and stay away. Cavendish would make that lot look silly in a flat sprint, if only they would let him, and that is the challenge he faces.

Everybody is expecting attacks to come on Surrey’s Box Hill, a pimple by Tour standards, but a significant hurdle when tackled nine times in a row. But the truth is Cavendish and his four guardians will be attacked every pedal stroke of the way, again and again.

And there is a big difference between this race and almost every other race in the calendar: this is one you would not mind coming second or third in – at least you get a medal. That kind of carrot encourages impromptu teamwork in a break and makes GB’s hopes of catching it that bit harder.

Have I done enough to drive Cavendish’s price up a bit yet? No? Didn’t think so. I can hardly blame you, the little man has been making a mockery of common sense for as long as he has been riding his bike.

And as Yates discovered on the team bus last week, there really is no resisting Cavendish when he has his heart set on something.