Sky is the limit as Cavendish gets behind yellow jersey bid

The next month is all that matters to Mark Cavendish, as Bradley Wiggins bids for Tour de France glory before the world champion targets the Olympics.

Cavendish, a 20-time stage winner at the Tour, which begins in Liege tomorrow, is set to sacrifice the defence of the points classification green jersey he won in 2011, as Team Sky throw their support behind Wiggins’ yellow jersey bid.

“Ideally we’d win both, but in any year it’s more important to win yellow than green,” Cavendish said.

“I’m going to experience something different than I ever have before.

“I’ve never gone in with real ambitions of winning the Tour de France in the team. That’s an exciting prospect for any part of your career.

“It’s massive, not just the first British winner, but any British winner. To be part of that it’s pretty special.”

Cavendish will return to his customary role as team leader for the 250-kilometres Olympic road race on July 28, six days after the Tour concludes in Paris, where Wiggins hopes to stand atop the podium.

The 27-year-old added: “The Olympic Games has been my biggest goal this year.

“I’ve never been so committed, so driven, just for one particular block of the year.

“I’ve not thought beyond it. This year has just been thinking about this one month, nothing really before, nothing really after.”

Five Britons in total are riding the Tour. Joining Belgian-born Wiggins are Scotland’s David Millar (Garmin-Sharp), Steve Cummings (BMC Racing) and Team Sky’s Chris Froome.