Cav out of World Champs

Mark Cavendish has withdrawn from the Road Cycling World Championships road race with a respiratory infection.

Cav, who has 23 victories this season, has also been affected by fellow Manxman Jonny Bellis' scooter accident in Italy on Friday, which has left him in a Florence hospital with serious head injuries.

The Manx Missile has established himself as the world's leading sprinter this season, with six wins in the Tour de France and victory in the Milan-San Remo Classic.

But his condition forced him out of the Tour of Missouri this month, and his place at Mendrisio, Switzerland, goes to Ian Stannard.