Injured Mark Cavendish out of Road World Championships

Mark Cavendish has pulled out of the UCI Road World Championships because of a shoulder injury.

The Great Britain team confirmed the news on Friday, with Cavendish unable to recover from a blow sustained on stage six of the Tour of Britain, when he collided with a parked car.

Cavendish was sent over the handlebars and landed on his shoulder and will now not have the chance to try to regain the world title he won in 2011.

"It's a real blow for Mark to have to pull out of this year's race as we thought he had a great chance of being successful," Great Britain Cycling technical director Shane Sutton said.

"Unfortunately the injury he sustained during last week's Tour of Britain is more serious than we had hoped. We wish him well in his recovery."

The withdrawal comes as another setback to the British team after Geraint Thomas pulled out of the event in Richmond, Virginia citing fatigue.

It has not been confirmed who will step in for Cavendish, but Adam Yates is to take the place of Thomas.

The world championships start on Sunday and finish with the men's elite road race seven days later.