Mark Cavendish out of the World Championships

Mark Cavendish has pulled out of the British team for the World Championships in Mendriso, Switzerland, and won't now compete in the road race on Sunday. The 23-year-old recently pulled out of the Tour of Missouri with a lung infection, and has battled to regain his fitness in time to have a pop at the rainbow jersey: it looks like he's lost that battle, which is a big blow both for the Manxman and the British team.

Cavendish, who recently won six stages of the Tour de France, in the process becoming the Briton with the most stage wins in the Tour, will be replaced by Ian Stannard. Earlier today Alex Dowsett claimed a creditable 7th in the U23 men's time trial, with Andy Fenn coming in 45th.

The full squad is listed below:

Elite Men’s Road Race

Ian Stannard
Stephen Cummings
Russ Downing
Chris Froome
Roger Hammond
Dan Lloyd
David Millar
Ian Stannard
Ben Swift
Geraint Thomas 

Elite Men’s Time Trial

Chris Froome
Bradley Wiggins 

Elite Women’s Road Race

Lizzie Armitstead
Katie Colclough
Nicole Cooke
Nikki Harris
Sharon Laws
Lucy Martin
Emma Pooley

Elite Women’s Time Trial

Wendy Houvenaghel
Emma Pooley

Under 23 Men’s Road Race

Mark Christian
Peter Kennaugh
Jonny McEvoy
Luke Rowe
Erick Rowsell

Under 23 Men’s Time Trial

Alex Dowsett
Andy Fenn