Mark Cavendish has taken to Instagram to expand on the reasoning behind his omission from the Team GB squad for the upcoming UCI World Championships Road Race in Bergen, Norway. Cavendish, who won the event in 2011 and came close to a second victory last year, was not named on the Team GB rider list that was released earlier this week.
Back in July the sprinter crashed out of the Tour de France during a bunch sprint at the end of Stage 4.
Peter Sagan, who will travel to Norway seeking a third consecutive win, was disqualified for his involvement in the crash that ended Cavendish's Tour.
The injuries sustained in that crash are the main reason that the British rider will not take the start in Bergen.
'I am still struggling with the broken shoulder I sustained in this year's Tour de France,' Cavedish wrote, adding, 'so withdrew myself as an option for selection last week.'
The course profile suggests the race will finish in a reduced bunch sprint, but a full-bunch kick for the line is also a possibility. Either outcome would have suited an on-form Cavendish.
'It [the World Champs Road Race] was a goal I'd set to try and win this year, on a course that suits me at my peak,' he stated.
After coming up short in 2016, Cavendish would have had his eyes set firmly on another rainbow jersey this year.
The British squad's best hope of a medal in Bergen lie either with Chris Froome in the time trial or Lizzie Deignan in the road race.
Deignan's form, however, is something of an unknown after she recently underwent appendix surgery.
The course of the time trial has been described as 'perfect' for Froome by the organisers but he will face tough opposition from this year's other Grand Tour winner Tom Dumoulin.
Steve Cummings was set to take the second British slot in the TT but withdrew himself claiming a lack of time to prepare.
Cummings will be replaced by Tao Geoghegan Hart, arguably a puzzling choice when Geraint Thomas and Owain Doull - both better against the clock - will be heading to Norway as part of Team Sky's line-up for the Team Time Trial.