Cycling: Mark Cavendish poised to return from injury at Tour de Yorkshire

Mark Cavendish will return to racing at next month's Tour de Yorkshire following a disappointing run of results that saw the Dimension Data rider crash out of three successive races, it was announced on Wednesday.

After crashing out of the opening stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour, Cavendish returned to action at Tirreno-Adriatico though was once again beset with bad luck as he crashed during the team time trial before missing the time cut after crossing the line battered and bruised.

A dramatic crash towards the end of Milan-Sanremo when he hit a bollard before somersaulting over his handlebars led to Cavendish being forced to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games, a race the Manxman had identified as one of his goals for the season.

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However, following a month of recuperation Cavendish said in a statement released by race organisers on Wednesday, that he will return to competitive riding at the Tour de Yorkshire alongside Dimension Data team-mate and defending champion Serge Pauwels.

"I’m delighted to have recovered sufficiently from my injuries at Milan-Sanremo to be back racing sooner than I initially thought and what better way to do that than at what could be described as a home race for me, the Tour de Yorkshire," Cavendish said.

"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 actually 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."

The four-day Tour de Yorkshire gets under way in Beverley on May 3 and concludes in Leeds three day's later.