Team GB's Mark Cavendish: 'Crash was my fault'

Mark Cavendish photographed on July 21, 2013
© Getty Images
Great Britain's Mark Cavendish says that the crash during Monday's points race in the omnium was his fault.

Great Britain's Mark Cavendish has blamed himself for a crash that resulted in three riders coming off their bikes during the points race in the omnium in Rio de Janeiro.

The 31-year-old went on to win his first Olympic medal - a silver - after missing out on a spot in the podium in both the Beijing and London Games.

With 109 laps to go, Cavendish and South Korea's Park Sang-hoon collided, resulting in the latter suffering mild concussion, bruises and burns.

Elia Viviani of Italy also came off his bike in the incident, but he pushed on to win gold, and Cavendish's spot was not affected as none of the riders submitted a protest.

"It was my fault, I should have been looking where I was going a bit more," BBC Sport quotes Cavendish as saying.

"I have got my Olympic medal. It is really nice but gold would have finished the collection. I don't think I'll be going for Tokyo [2020 Olympics] but you never know."

Denmark's Lasse Hansen, who entered the event as defending champion, took bronze.

Sports Mole logo
Read Next:
Hansen: 'Winning gold is crazy'
>

LIVE SCORES VIDEPRINTER
expand