Ellingworth Explains Cavendish Withdrawal From Worlds

Mark Cavendish, Tour de France 2009 video

Mark Cavendish has pulled out of the World Championships because of poor race form after illness in the Tour of Missouri.

Cavendish was unable to train as he wanted after suffering from a lung infection in the States and although still on the GB list until today, finally opted to pull out.

GB men's road coach Rod Ellingworth said "Mark doesn't feel he could contribute and do a good job, he didn't want to hold the team back. It's a little disappointing for the team, but Mark did the right thing. Like other riders have done he took a step back for the good of the squad."

"Ian Stannard has come in to replace him. Ian went back to Tuscany after the Tour of Bitain and kept training so he can fit in smoothly. It's something we've worked on this year, everybody in the team including the reserves have all been prepared with contingency plans, just in case anything happened."

A questionmark remains whether Cavendish will return to racing in October or if he will simply call it a day for 2009.

"At the moment nothing else is planned," Ellingworth said, "but it's up his team to decide his program."

The starting nine are:

Stephen Cummings

Russ Downing

Chris Froome

Roger Hammond

Dan Lloyd

David Millar

Ian Stannard

Ben Swift

Geraint Thomas

Road World Championships 2009: Related links

News

Ellingworth explains Cavendish withdrawal from Worlds

Dowsett happy with world-class rinde in under-23 TT

Manning praises Dowsett after Worlds TT ride

It's Cavendish or Stannard for final worlds place

Great Britain names world championships team

Millar won't ride worlds time trial despite Vuelta win

Wiggins quits Tour of Britain to focus on worlds TT

Out of sorts Cooke abandons Tour de l'Ardeche

Cavendish keen to ride worlds despite illness

Millar set to lead GB road race team at the Worlds

Brits head home to fight for worlds places

Reports

Under-23 Men Time Trial

Women's and under-23 men's time trials as they happened

Photos

Under-23Men Time Trial gallery by Graham Watson

External links

Road World Championships 2009 official website

Union Cycliste Internationale website

 

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