It has been announced that Mark Cavendish will, after all, be taking part in the Tour of Britain. His involvement was in doubt after his withdrawal from the Vuelta a Espana on Stage 4, the 170.2km route from Baza to the Sierra Nevada (the Vuelta continues until Sunday September 11, the date that the ToB starts). Citing exhaustion after the Tour de France – at which he took the prestigious green jersey – Cavendish’s inclusion in the team for the Tour of Britain looked unlikely as UCI rules usually state that riders who withdraw from one race may not enter another whilst the first is still running – however the Manx rider has been granted special dispensation to take to the saddle when things get underway in Peebles, Scotland.
Tweeting yesterday, Cavendish said: “So happy to announce on this lovely Monday morning that I will be racing in this year’s #TourOfBritain with my @HTCHighroad team.” Race Director Mick Bennett commented: Mark’s addition will ensure that the sprints are hotly contested… As a team we have worked hard over the past fortnight to ensure that Mark rides the Tour of Britain.”
Cavendish hasn’t participated in the ToB since 2007, when he won the two opening stages.
