Mark Cavendish ‘over the moon’ at Gaviria’s arrival

With rumours abound that Etixx - Quick-Step see Fernando Gaviria as a replacement for Mark Cavendish, the Manxman denies he's disgruntled about the signing
Stuart Clarke

Mark Cavendish insists he is ‘over the moon’ at fellow sprinter Fernando Gaviria joining him at Etixx – Quick-Step.

The Manxman took to Twitter to debunk rumours that he was disgruntled with the Colombian’s arrival, with many speculating that Etixx could be planning for life without Cavendish.

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“I’m over the moon that @Etixx_QuickStep has signed @77Gaviria. Welcome dude!” Cavendish typed.

Gaviria, who won omnium gold at last week’s UCI Track World Championships, beat Cavendish twice at the season-opening Tour de San Luis.

After those wins, interest from the WorldTour in the 20-year-old was rife, with rumours of him signing for AG2R-La Mondiale soon quashed.

Etixx – Quick-Step invited Gaviria and countryman Rodrigo Contreras, who won the youth category at San Luis, for tests in Belgium earlier this week and announced yesterday they had signed them both.

With Gaviria keen to fight for omnium gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Etixx team boss Patrick Lefevere said his schedule will be focussed around that goal, but the sprinter could ride as a stagiaire towards the end of this season.