Cavendish responds to claims he's moving to Sky

Peter Kennaugh, Mark Cavendish, Russell Downing, Giro d'Italia 2011, stage eight

British sprint star Mark Cavendish has responded to claims that he'll be moving to Team Sky next season.

Although not denying the story that appeared in today's Daily Mail, Cavendish tweeted:

"As always, I can't go 1 race without some sort of shit going on. At least it's not a crash this time! I will say I'm committed... @HTCHighroad until the end of this year, and I'm concetrating [sic] now on #TourDeFrance. Also, please note, all quotes are 9 months old."

The Daily Mail reported that Cavendish will move to Sky in a deal worth £1.5 million.

Team Sky refused to comment on the story and the newspaper offers little other detail on the specifics of the deal.

On Wednesday, Cycling Weekly tried to contact HTC-Highroad team manager Bob Stapleton with regards to retaining Cavendish. He is yet to have responded to our request.

Stapleton's team is understood to be currently looking for sponsors. Cavendish publicly criticised the lack of goodwill shown by the team when he was at the Commonwealth Games last year. 

It is understood that BMC has also been interested in signing Cavendish.

Under UCI rules, teams and riders are not supposed to comment on transfer deals until August 1.

Mark Cavendish: Major wins

2011

Tour of Oman; stage six

Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen

Giro d'Italia; stage 10

Giro d'Italia; stage 12

2010

Tour of Catalonia; stage two

Tour de Romandie; stage two

Tour of California; stage one

Tour de France; stage five

Tour de France; stage six

Tour de France; stage 11

Tour de France; stage 18

Tour de France; stage 20

Vuelta a Espana; stage 12

Vuelta a Espana; stage 13

Vuelta a Espana; stage 18

Vuelta a Espana; points classification

2009

Tour de France; stage two

Tour de France; stage three

Tour de France; stage 10

Tour de France, stage 11

Tour de France; stage 19

Tour de France; stage 21

Giro d'Italia; stage one (TTT)

Giro d'Italia; stage nine

Giro d'Italia; stage 11

Giro d'Italia; stage 13

Tour of Switzerland; stage three

Tour of Switzerland; stage six

Tour of Romandie; stage three (TTT)

Tirreno-Adriatico; stage seven

Three Days of De Panne; stage two

Three Days of De Panne; stage three (a)

Three Days of De Panne; points classification

Tour of California; stage five

Tour of California; stage four

Tour of California; sprint classification

Tour of Missouri; stage one

Tour of Missouri; stage two

Tour of Ireland; stage two

Tour of Qatar; stage four

Tour of Qatar; stage six

Milan-San Remo

Sparkasse Giro

2008

Tour de France; stage five

Tour de France; stage eight

Tour de France; stage 12

Tour de France; stage 13

Giro d'Italia; stage four

Giro d'Italia; stage 13

Tour of Romandy; prologue

Three Days of de Panne; stage two

Three Days of de Panne; stage three (a)

Ster Elektrotoer; stage five

Tour of Ireland; stage one

Tour of Ireland; stage two

Tour of Ireland; stage three

Tour of Missouri; stage one

Tour of Missouri; stage two

Tour of Missouri; stage six

Tour of Missouri; points jersey

Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen

World Madison Champion

2007

Tour of Catalonia; stage two

Tour of Catalonia; stage six

Tour of Catalonia; points jersey

ENECO Tour; stage two

ENECO Tour; points jersey

Four Days of Dunkirk; stage three

Four Days of Dunkirk; stage six

Four Days of Dunkrik; points jersey

Ster Elektrotoer; stage four

Circuit Franco Belge; stage three

Tour of Britain; stage one

Tour of Britain; stage two

Tour of Britain; points classification

Tour of Britain; sprints classification

Tour of Denmark; stage six

Tour of Denmark; points jersey

Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen

2006

Tour of Britain; points jersey

Thuringen Rhundfahrt; stage five

Tour of Berlin; stage four

Tour of Berlin; stage five

Course de la Solidarité Olympique

Commonwealth scratch race champion

2005

Tour of Berlin; stage one

World Madison champion

Related links

Which way now for Mark Cavendish?

Mark Cavendish: Rider profile

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