MARK CAVENDISH says “coming home” to Team Sky is the perfect end to the most prolific year of his life.

The Manxman won last year’s Tour de France green jersey and world road race title and was recently recruited by Team Sky from HTC-Highroad.

Cavendish was unveiled as the head of the team’s 10-strong British contingent, where he links up with the likes of Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas.

The 26-year-old is also reunited with several former HTC-Highroad team-mates in Bernhard Eisel, Danny Pate and Kanstantsin Siutsou and feels Team Sky is his natural home.

“It is the first time as a successful rider that I have moved team so I cannot compare the feeling to anything else,” Cavendish said .

“I can’t imagine it would be anywhere near as easy to be in a team anywhere else.

“I really feel at home. It is like coming home, where the riders are not just new team-mates but friends.

“They are guys I grew up with and a lot of my old team-mates are here anyway. On the management side, it is people I know very well with Rod Ellingworth and Dave Brailsford.

“To be honest, they are the people that made me who I am today so it is as simple as saying I am coming home.”

The 26-year-old’s success has seen him become the most famous face in cycling and pick up numerous honours, while his partner is expecting their first child.

“I set two goals in 2011. One was to win the green journey, the other was to win the world championship. I did them both,” Cavendish said.

“We had to really work for the green jersey, and then the perfection we executed at the World Championships road race will go down as one of the highlights – probably the highlight – of my career.

“It will definitely be one of the most memorable World Championships by any team in cycling history.

“I don’t think any team – not just a British team – has dominated the World Championships like we did last year. It was incredible to be part of that.

“Obviously I got honoured with an MBE by the Queen and the 2011 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

“In my career, it is down to me and my team-mates as what you put in is what you get out. It is up to you.

“With honours that are bestowed on you, the fact it out of your control kind of makes it more special.

“The fact the public are buying into what we are doing in cycling on a non-Olympic year is beyond words.

“And, for me, the news I am going to become a father sees any pride I get from anything surpassed.

“To think I am going to be a dad in April is unbelievable. It is the happiest I have ever been in my life.”