Exclusive: Manxman given police escort around streets of Richmond
Friday 22 May 2015 22:04, UK
Mark Cavendish was given a police escort around the streets of Richmond in the United States on Wednesday in order to reconnoiter this September's world championship road race route.
The Manxman was escorted by eight police motorbikes and was given the freedom to ride on closed roads so that he could test the course as dawn broke.
Cavendish won the world road race title in 2011 and will be hoping to repeat that performance in September on a route that is much better suited to him than in previous seasons, when the courses have not been favourable to the sprinter.
Rod Ellingworth, national road coach for British Cycling, said Cavendish "likes the course but has realised it is harder than the year he won in Copenhagen".
The UCI Road World Championships take place from September 19-27.
