Mark Cavendish has been selected by the Isle of Man to lead its road cycling team at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. However, 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Peter Kennaugh is a surprise absence from the list.
Cavendish will join fellow Manx riders Sam Brand, Anna Christian, Nathan Draper, Lizzie Holden, Jake Kelly, Leon Mazzone and Tom Mazzone in contesting the road cycling disciplines in Australia in April, with Matthew Bostock and Matthew Draper riding on the track.
Cavendish had previously said that he may not take part in the event due to a clash of dates with spring road races.
IOM team manager Trevor Taubman told the BBC that Kennaugh could still ride in the Games, but that it was down to his new Bora-Hansgrohe team to release him for the event.
"There is still a chance Peter (Kennaugh) will be included, but it depends on the decision of his new team - who he joined last year," said Taubman.
Both Cavendish and Kennaugh have previously said that riding for the IOM at the Games is a great honour – the Commonwealth Games is the highest-level event for which athletes can represent the Isle of Man.
>>> Sprinter-friendly route revealed for 2018 Commonwealth Games
Cavendish won the Commonwealth Games scratch race in Melbourne 2006, and Kennaugh took IOM's only medal in the Glasgow Games in 2014, claiming silver in the points race on the track.
The 2018 road race route is relatively flat and is widely tipped to finish in a bunch sprint, which gives Cavendish a strong chance of coming away with a medal.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games take place on the Gold Coast, Australia, over April 4-15. The men's and women's road races take place on Saturday April 14, just six days after Paris-Roubaix (April 8), a race that Cavendish said he wants to ride in 2018.
Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, n exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
-
-
Cannondale reacts to negative comments directed at new Synapse with smart technology
We gave Cannondale right of reply after its new SmartSense-equipped Synapse - which has integrated lights and radar - attracted an unusual amount of criticism when it launched last week
-
Pidcock third while Vos vanquishes Brand in final World Cup round before cyclocross World Championships
Next weekend will see riders compete for the rainbow bands in America
-
Police search for two men in connection to Mark Cavendish aggravated burglary case
Police have asked people to come forward if they know their whereabouts
-
Man charged with robbery at Mark Cavendish's house
A 30-year-old will appear in court today after armed men broke into the cyclist's home last month
-
Mark Cavendish full of confidence heading into 2022: 'I’m going to win next year'
The 36-year-old also said that he wouldn't continue racing if he wasn't optimistic of strong performances
-
Dame Sarah Storey nominated for BBC's Sports Personality of the Year as Cavendish and the Kenny's miss out
Britain's most successful Paralympian is nominated alongside the likes of Raheem Sterling, Emma Raducanu and Adam Peaty
-
Eddy Merckx 'wouldn't have had a problem' with Cavendish beating his Tour de France stage victory record
The 'Manx Missile' equalled the great Belgian's record at the Grand Boucle as he won four stages
-
Armed men break into Mark Cavendish's family home during aggravated burglary
The British rider was recovering from his Ghent Six crash at his family home in Essex, when burglars broke in with weapons
-
WATCH: Emotional behind the scenes footage of Mark Cavendish's first stage win at the 2021 Tour de France
His reaction to victory on stage four is a part of a docuseries created by Deceuninck - Quick-Step
-
Mark Cavendish signs one-year contract extension with Deceuninck - Quick-Step
The Manxman has finally put pen to paper on a new deal that keeps him at the Belgian team until the end of 2022
