Mark Cavendish to race at Ghent Six Day meeting next month

Mark Cavendish, a double world champion in the Madison, will be back on the track in next month’s Ghent Six Day meeting, the first time he has ridden there since 2007.

The 29-year-old partnered Rob Hayles to win his first rainbow jersey on the track in Los Angeles in 2005 and got his second riding with Bradley Wiggins in Manchester in 2008.

Organisers of the Ghent Six say he will team up with Omega Pharma-Quick Step colleague Iljo Keisse at the meeting, which runs from 18-23 November.

Team manager Patrick Lefevre banned Cavendish from taking part in the event last year due to concerns that he might pick up an injury that would disrupt his racing on the road this season.

But last month, the Manx rider said he aimed to race on the track this winter to get back to full fitness following his crash on the opening stage of the Tour de France in Harrogate, where he sustained a separated shoulder.

Keisse and Cavendish should make for a formidable pairing on the track; the Belgian, aged 31, is a six-day specialist and has been a member of the winning pair at Ghent on five occasions.