Mark Cavendish: I can't repeat World Championships victory
Last updated on .From the section Cycling
Defending world road race champion Mark Cavendish has told BBC Sport that he "can't win" Sunday's race in Limburg.
Last year, the 27-year-old became the first Briton to win the race in 46 years, but does not believe the hilly 261km Dutch course will suit him.
"I can't win," he said. "I haven't got a chance, so I will be in a support role for the other guys in the team."
Cavendish said GB would be "putting their money on" Jonathan Tiernan-Locke who won the 2012 Tour of Britain.
"He's an attacking rider and it is going to be a really open race and there are so many different options and riders who can win," the Manxman added.
Although the finish in particular does not suit the sprint specialist, a 1,200m climb up the Cauberg hill coming in the closing couple of kilometres, Cavendish said there was never any doubt that he would defend his title.
"There are not many sports where you win a world title and then get to wear a jersey for a year," he said, referring to the white top with rainbow-coloured bands that he has worn for the past 12 months.
"I'm here out of respect for the jersey and whether you can win or not you go and defend the jersey."
Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins raced on a similar course 15 years ago as a junior and he too has no qualms about trying to help his team-mates in the Netherlands.
"Jon [Tiernan-Locke] is in great form at the moment and is probably going to be our leader," Wiggins said. "We'll go out with a game-plan and try to implement it for Jon. Perhaps it won't be as straightforward as last year but we will have a go.
"Steve Cummings is also an outsider. He's got this great knack of popping out when it matters although he is probably more of an underdog. But I certainly wouldn't discount Steve."
Tiernan-Locke admits the "lumpy" course should suit his strengths, but is wary of raising expectations given the quality of the field and his relative inexperience at the highest level.
"People talk about the Cauberg [hill], but the finish comes 1.5 km after that so it is going to be more open than just for the climbers," he said.
"Maybe I will have a free rein but I don't think it will be a case of just everyone behind me. I am pretty unproven at this level and this distance as well."
Chris Froome, who finished second at the Tour de France, third in the Olympic time trial and fourth in the Vuelta a Espana, might have been a contender himself, but given his heavy recent workload, does not believe he will be challenging in the closing stages.
He said: "If [this race] was around Tour de France time I might have a chance.
"But I am feeling stretched and I don't think I'll be in contention in the final two laps."
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Sky never let Cavendish down in the TDF,it is well documented the overall win was and still is their main priority in the major tours,it also pays to give Cavendish credit for actually winning three stages,still a brilliant sprinter,it will be interesting to see where he ends up and if that team dedicates their resources to him like the HTC team did.
Fair enough.
I was just hoping he might actually go for it.
But well done to Gilbert, he deserved it.
The BBC as they cant report cycling well
and then people that dont understand the sport
Not a course for Cav's. Too hard anyway let alone when 200 of the very best riders will be charging at the race. Doesn't stand a chance no puncher will let this get to a sprint. Both Wiggins and Froome are overdone by a long season. JTL is untested and underclass to win.
Gilbert, Purito and Valverde should win. Or a Freire type rider, not Sagan, not on form.
British cyclists have been an inspiration yet again this year. Something I never thought I'd see since my early interest and participation in the sport in the 60's and 70's.
Good luck to all of you and keep your cards close to your chests :o)
May be he is secretly hoping for one and is just taking the pressure off if it does n't happen such as what happened in the Olympics.
And although many have won multiple world road championships, relatively few have achieve it in consecutive years.
Even the great Eddy Merckx (1967, 1971, 1974) was not able to do it.
Come on Cav, cap of this incredible year for all of us.