Mark Cavendish Flies From Bike In Horror Crash During Race

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Cyclist Mark Cavendish has been involved in a horror crash during the Milan-San Remo race in Italy.

The 32-year-old collided with a traffic bollard while attempting to move out of its way.

Unfortunately, he hit it head-on, causing him to fly off his bike and land right on his back.

Medical staff from his racing team – Team Dimension Data – posted a tweet following the crash informing people they will assess him.

Mark Cavendish #ouch #MSR pic.twitter.com/RD9RnevkR8
— Javier Gilabert ? (@tourdegila) March 17, 2018

This was meant to be Cavendish’s big return after fracturing his rib in a previous crash which occurred during the opening stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico on March 7.

Prior to his latest crash, Cavendish was announced as a representative of the Isle of Man’s road cycling team for April’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.

??#MSR @MarkCavendish is currently being assessed by a medical team. More information will be provided when available.
— Team Dimension Data (@TeamDiData) March 17, 2018

In the lead-up to today’s race, March 17, he posted a Tweet telling his followers about how excited he was to compete in a race which is ‘close to his heart’.

Cavendish wrote:

Tomorrow, a race close to my heart, a Monument I won, a course that builds a crescendo like no other in cycling. 300km. Milano-Sanremo.
I still have a broken rib. I can’t do it anymore damage, but I’m under no illusions to win. I’ll be in full support of my @teamdidata teammates.

Tomorrow, a race close to my heart, a Monument I won, a course that builds a crescendo like no other in cycling. 300km. Milano-Sanremo. I still have a broken rib. I can’t do it anymore damage, but I’m under no illusions to win. I’ll be in full support of my @teamdidata teammates. pic.twitter.com/Exg40JsoRk
— Mark Cavendish (@MarkCavendish) March 16, 2018

Sky Sports reporter Olga Chennaoui, who covers cycling events, took to Twitter to say:

Horrible crash at #MilanSanRemo. Mark Cavendish seemed to go head first over traffic bollard.
This was his first race back from Tirreno Adriatico crash. If it weren’t for bad luck, he’d have none at all. Terrible.

Horrible crash at #MilanSanRemo. Mark Cavendish seemed to go head first over traffic bollard. This was his first race back from Tirreno Adriatico crash. If it weren’t for bad luck, he’d have none at all. Terrible.
— Orla Chennaoui (@SkyOrla) March 17, 2018

According to the BBC he’d injured his knees, hips and hands in the Tirreno-Adriatico but insisted on racing in the Milan-San Remo, even though his rib was not fully healed.

Last February, Cavendish pulled out of the Abu Dhabi Tour after picking up a concussion and whiplash in another fall.

The Milan-San Remo is said to be the longest one-day race in the cycling calendar and the first big race of the season.

Cavendish won the race back in 2009, nine years ago.