Cav Out in Catalunya

The season for Mark Cavendish has gone from bad to worse.

Illness has forced the Manx cyclist to pull out of the Tour of Catalunya where he seemed to be returning to form with his first stage win of the season on Tuesday.

His early campaign was severely disrupted by dental problems which hit his training and race schedule.

His HTC Columbia team say the latest set- back shouldn't rule him out of action for long with the spring classic Tour of Flanders, starting a week on Sunday, as the target for a return to action.