Mark Cavendish to return at Tour de Yorkshire

Cavendish, 32, fractured a rib and damaged an ankle during a horror crash at Milan-San Remo in March, but Team Dimension Data say he will return to compete in Yorkshire between 3-6 May.

The injuries forced his withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games, where he would have represented the Isle of Man in the men's road race on the Gold Coast.

“I’m delighted to have recovered sufficiently from my injuries at Milan-San Remo to be back racing sooner than I initially thought and what better way to do that than at what could be described as a home race for me, the Tour de Yorkshire," said the sprinter, who will bid to add to his 30 Tour de France stage wins this year.

“Results-wise; I’m not sure where my form will be actually only having had a couple of weeks back on the bike but I’ll just be absorbing the atmosphere in one of the most beautiful places in the world.”