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British Cavendish quits Tour de France to focus on Rio Olympics

Xinhua, July 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

British sprinter Mark Cavendish announced Tuesday his decision to withdraw from the on-going Tour de France and focus on the upcoming Rio Olympic Games.

The 31-year-old has won four stages in this year's race and Tuesday is the final rest day before the race goes on with the last five stages on Wednesday.

"After an extremely enjoyable and successful couple of weeks at the Tour de France with Team Dimension Data, it is with great sadness that I took the decision today to leave the race," Cavendish said in a statement.

"After the heat and intensity of the previous stages, we analysed my fatigue levels and decided I'm at a point that would have a detrimental effect on my other big goal for the year, the Olympic Games," he said.

Australian Rohan Dennis, who won the opening stage time trial last year, also quit the Tour on Tuesday to concentrate on his Olympic preparations.

The Rio Games start on Aug. 5 and finish on Aug. 21. Enditem