Saturday 17 March 2018 20:42, UK
Mark Cavendish has avoided serious injury after crashing heavily into a bollard during the final 10km of the Milan-San Remo on Saturday.
The Team Dimension Data rider came off his bike headfirst and landed hard on his back - team doctor Jarrad van Zuydam later tweeted: "Yes, Cav is okay.
"No serious injuries, details to follow from the team. He even managed to preserve his sense of humour."
Cavendish was making his return after fracturing a rib in a fall on the opening stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico ten days ago.
Speaking ahead of the Milan-San Remo, the 32-year-old said: "After crashing in Tirreno I'm obviously not in any sort of condition to win Milan-San Remo.
"But having been able to train enough through the pain over the last few days I feel like I can go in support of my teammates."
Cavendish, who won the Milan-San Remo in 2009, was also forced to withdraw from the Abu Dhabi Tour last month after sustaining concussion and whiplash in a fall.
The Milan-San Remo was won by Italy's Vincenzo Nibali in a time of seven hours 18 minutes 43 seconds.
