Stage winner Mark Cavendish (Columbia-HTC) talks to the fans after going two from two in Missouri. (Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)
After already having had to pull out of the British Worlds team for Mendrisio, Mark Cavendish will not be able to participate in Paris-Tours, taking place on October 11. The Columbia-HTC sprinter is still suffering from a lung infection, the same illness that saw him pull out of the Tour of Missouri earlier this month.
Moreover, the 2009 season must have been tiring for Cavendish, who sprinted to victory an amazing 23 times this year. "It's been a long season for Cavendish to also take on Paris-Tours this year," confirmed Columbia-HTC director Brian Holm.
The Manx man has never participated in the French autumn Classic, which could be suited to his caracteristics as a fast finisher. But Cavendish started this season early, at the Tour of Qatar in February, before accumulating two Grand Tours, the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. He was competitive through September at the Tour of Missouri, where he wore the leader's jersey for two days and won the first two stages before illness forced him to abandon.
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