The Isle of Man is perhaps most famous for the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy race, otherwise known as The TT. Dating back to 1907, the motorcycle race takes place in May and July each year.
Taking place over a two week period, it has become a festival for motorcycling culture, makes a huge contribution to the island’s economy and has become part of Manx identity. If you wish to visit the Isle of Man, Cheapfllights.co.uk have a range of flights to the island. Yet the Isle of Man has also produced some famous residents in their own right, here are 5 Famous People from the Isle of Man.
The Bee Gees, the well-known pop band formed in 1958, yet what is less well-known is the fact the trio (brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb) were actually born on the Isle of Man. The musical trio enjoyed great success in the 1970s as disco music conquered the world. After leaving the Isle of Man, the Gibb brothers lived in Manchester before moving in the late 1950s to Australia, where they began their musical careers.
Road racing cyclist Mark Cavendish is a Manx and one of the best sprinters in the world. Born in 1985, Cavendish rides for Omega Pharma-Quick Step having left Team Sky this year. Originally a track cyclist Cavendish swapped the track for the road. He was the 2011 Road Race World Champion and BBC Sports Personality of the Year, also in 2011. A regular participant in the gruelling Tour de France, Cavendish was, in July 2012, named Tour de France’s best sprinter of all-time by French newspaper L’Equipe.
Snowboarder Zoe Gillings is the number one snowboarder in the UK, hailing from the Isle of Man, Zoe competes in the snowboard cross, where six athletes race down a tight mountain course against each other. She suffered a career threatening injury in 2005 where doctors said she would be lucky to walk again. However just eight months later, Zoe managed to compete in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, placing fifteenth. Zoe followed this up in 2010 with an eighth place finish in Vancouver.
Mark Cavendish isn’t the only famous cycling Manx. Peter Kennaugh is also a professional racing cyclist. Currently riding for Team Sky, Peter represented Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, becoming the first man from the Isle of Man in 100 years to win a gold, after helping Team BG to the Team Pursuit title.
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