Mark Cavendish not ruling out riding Olympic Games road race
Mark Cavendish says he has a better chance of riding track than road at the Olympics, but isn't ruling out a shot at the latter

It's no secret that Mark Cavendish wants to win an Olympic medal and the Manxman isn't shutting the door on the idea of riding the Rio 2016 road race.
The general consensus seems to be the route suits climbers and puncheurs more than the traditional sprinters, with riders such as Alejandro Valverde, Nairo Quintana and Chris Froome all setting it as a target for next season.
Cavendish has set his sights on gaining a berth in the Great Britian track team for Rio - which he sees as his best chance of winning a medal - but it is by no means guaranteed that he will be selected.
He is quoted on the BBC as saying he has a "better chance of riding the track than the road race".
"But if I leave the door open to ride the road race, the option's always there. It's like that," he added.
It's likely that Cavendish will aim for selection as GB's rider for the omnium, but with London 2012 bronze medalist Ed Clancy also set to ride in Rio, Cavendish's place is far from secure.
He is moving from Etixx-Quick Step to Dimension Data - the 2016 guise of MTN-Qhubeka - at the end of the year, with his new team allowing him to mix his track riding with the team's goals on the road, something he was not allowed to do at Etixx.
And Cavendish joked that he'd be happy for an Olympic medal in any discipline, but cycling is probably his best shot.
"It's the Olympic Games. If I could leave the door open in archery, I'd do that, but I'm not very good at archery," he said.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
Five talking points from stage eleven of the Giro d’Italia 2022
The Cycling Weekly highlights package from the stage which finally saw an Italian win at the home race this year
By Luke Friend • Published
-
Strava acquires injury prevention app Recover Athletics to provide personalised prehab
Evidence-based exercises are claimed to help athletes stay injury-free
By Anna Marie Hughes • Published
-
Mark Cavendish confident of strong Giro d'Italia but attempts to manage expectations: 'People seem to forget I had a punctured lung at the end of November'
The Manxman seemed motivated in the press conference as he returns to the Italian Grand Tour after a nine-year hiatus
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Mark Cavendish frustrated on final Tour of Oman stage as Jan Hirt wins overall
Sprinter boxed out on stage six finish, as Fernando Gaviria triumphs
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Mark Cavendish loses green jersey and fined at Tour of Oman ahead of stage six
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl penalised by race jury for being pushed back to peloton by car
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish crashes 'quite heavily' on stage five of Tour of Oman
Jan Hirt takes stage win and race lead atop Green Mountain on the penultimate day
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish raring to get 2022 campaign underway at Tour of Oman: 'It doesn't matter how you're going until you compare yourself with the other people'
Cavendish starts his 2022 campaign at the the Tour of Oman on Thursday
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Mark Cavendish set to return from Ghent Six crash with season debut at Tour of Oman
Cavendish has recovered from the two broken ribs and punctured lung he suffered at the end of November to lead Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl in Oman
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
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
By Jonny Long • Published
-
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
By Ryan Dabbs • Published