No place for any Yorkshireman at the start of Tour as Thwaites misses out

The 24-year-old from Burley-in-Wharfedale was always a long shot to make the German team, but in recent weeks expectation had risen that he might be a surprise inclusion.

After a solid Classics season and improvement in his climbing power, Thwaites was included in NetApp’s provisional 14-man line-up. But yesterday his name was not part of the nine that NetApp announced as their starting line-up.

Thwaites is one of two reserve riders, but along with Spain’s Iker Camano, he is reliant on one of those selected ahead of him withdrawing before the race due to injury or illness.

Sources close to Thwaites said he was upbeat about the decision, and proud of how close he had come.

Mark Cavendish, meanwhile, is to miss this weekend’s British road race championships as he battles a “bout of bronchitis”.

His team, Omega Pharma Quick-Step, said the 29-year-old will concentrate on getting fit for the Tour de France.

Cavendish, the defending British champion, said: “I would have liked to honour the race and this jersey.

“I think it’s wiser, however, to not take any risks and focus on absolute, 100 per cent recovery, and continue to train in preparation for the Tour de France.”