Mark Cavendish has withdrawn from the men’s cycling road race at the European Championships in Glasgow.
The 33-year-old sprinter, who has 30 Tour de France stage wins, has made the decision on the basis of medical advice.
He said: "I've been advised that at this stage the best thing is for me to withdraw. It's incredibly disappointing."
The Team Dimension Data rider has had a torrid season – withdrawing from the Abu Dhabi Tour after suffering concussion and whiplash and crashing out of the Tirreno-Adriatico in an incident that left him with facial cuts and sore ribs.
He also suffered a broken rib and an ankle injury in the Milan-San Remo one-day race in March and was ejected from the Tour de France after failing to make the time cut on stage 11.
He is to be replaced by fellow Manxman Mark Christian.
The British team that will line up on Sunday 12 August also includes Adam Blythe, Owain Doull, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift and Scott Thwaites.
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