Wednesday 18 April 2018 11:34, UK
Mark Cavendish is close to fitness again and is targeting an appearance at the Tour de Yorkshire in May.
Cavendish has not raced since crashing in the final stages of Milan-San Remo last month when he broke a rib and sustained an ankle injury.
The 34-year-old Isle of Man rider subsequently missed the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Australia.
But Cavendish will race in Yorkshire from May 3-6 and step up his preparation for this year's Tour de France, in which he will start within four of matching Eddy Merck's record 34 stage wins.
"I'm delighted to have recovered sufficiently from my injuries at Milan-San Remo to be back racing sooner than I initially thought, he told the Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka website.
"What better way to do that than at what could be described as a home race for me, the Tour de Yorkshire.
"My mother's from Harrogate and obviously the last time I raced things didn't go that great (for me) in the 2014 Tour de France; but one thing I do remember is the incredible crowds and I know that the Tour de Yorkshire always provides.
"It's the first time that I've raced the Tour de Yorkshire and I'm extremely excited. Results-wise; I'm not sure where my form will be only having had a couple of weeks back on the bike but I'll just be absorbing the atmosphere in one of the most beautiful places in the world."
It has also been confirmed that Belgian rider Serge Pauwels will return to Yorkshire to defend the title he won in 2017.
"It's one of my favourite races, not only because I won it last year but because the course suits me and there is always a great ambience from the passionate spectators," said Pauwels.
