Cavendish should leave Tour early

Olympic advice for Manx Missile

After teaming up with Sir Bradley Wiggins to win madison gold at the Track Cycling World Championships in London, Mark Cavendish has been told he will have to leave the Tour de France early if he wants to ride at the Olympics.

So says British Cycling's technical director, Shane Sutton.

Competing on the track will be the Manxman's best chance in Rio this summer, if selected for the GB team, as the road race route is not suited for pure sprinters.

Sutton said: ‘Cav won't do three weeks of the Tour. If he wants to medal, he's aware that he wouldn't be going to Paris.’