CAVENDISH CONFIRMED FOR GIRO LEAD ROLE

Cycling star Mark Cavendish has been confirmed to lead the Quickstep-alpha Vinyl squad at the Giro d’italia from Friday in a move that suggests he could miss this summer’s Tour de France.

Cavendish, who turns 37 this month, won four stages at the Tour last year to move level with Eddy Merckx’s all-time record of 34 stage victories, but even after he signed a one-year contract extension to continue his career it was clear he’d face competition to return to the race this season.

Quickstep’s other primary sprinter, Fabio Jakobsen, is expected to target the Tour, although it is worth noting Cavendish was not in line to race in France last summer but made the most of an opportunity handed to him when then teammate Sam Bennett succumbed to a knee injury.

Cavendish has largely refused to answer questions regarding Tour selection this season, although it seems certain he will face more of them when he addresses the media tomorrow to preview the Giro, which starts in Budapest on Friday.

This will be the first time Cavendish has raced the Italian Grand Tour since 2013, although he has a proud record in the Giro too, having won 15 stages in the five editions he has raced, winning the points classification in 2013 and wearing the leader’s pink jersey for a total of four days.

Simon Yates will lead Team Bikeexchangejayco targeting the general classification and looking to build on his third place overall last season.

Fellow Brits Ben Swift, Ben Tulett (both Ineos Grenadiers) and Alex Dowsett (Israelpremier Tech) have also been confirmed to start the race.