Mark Cavendish pulls out of Commonwealth Games in wake of horrifying crash in Milan-San Remo

Mark Cavendish has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games in the wake of his horrifying crash in the Milan-San Remo classic last week.

The 32-year-old, who was set to lead the Isle of Man’s road cycling team at the Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, struck a central bollard in the road, and was flipped over his handlebars before landing heavily on his back.

His Team Dimension Data confirmed that he had escaped serious injury, but said he suffered bruising and abrasions and subsequent tests revealed a fractured rib and ankle damage.

Cavendish said: “Although it’s ultimately positive news that there’s been no serious damage sustained following the crash, I am hugely disappointed to have to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games.”

Cavendish has been extremely unlucky with injuries in the past 18 months. He was knocked off course last season by a severe bout of glandular fever, before his high-profile collision with Peter Sagan during the Tour de France which ended in Cavendish’s abandonment and Sagan’s disqualification – subsequently annulled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

He suffered a broken scapula in that incident, missing even more of the season, and last week’s crash was the third significant fall already in 2018.

In January Cavendish told The Independent that Milan-San Remo was one of his priorities, ahead of the summer and the Tour de France.

“My main focus is the Tour de France in July, and being in my best condition in July,” he said. ”Obviously there are times I’m going to peak during the year, especially the beginning of the year, so I want to do well at the Abu Dhabi Tour, I want to do well at Milan-San Remo.

“But the main objective of the year is definitely to go and win multiple stages of the Tour de France.”

The Commonwealth Games begin on 4 April.