Mark Cavendish: Isle of Man rider quits Tour of Poland to focus on Commonwealth Games

Mark Cavendish has quit the Tour of Poland to focus on the Commonwealth Games.

The Manx rider, 37, completed five stages of the seven-stage race, but his team Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl confirmed he would not start Thursday's stage six.

He will compete at the Games in the 160km road race around Warwick on Sunday.

"I'm sorry to leave the boys and the race," said Cavendish.

"But at the same time I'm looking forward to racing for the Isle of Man at this great event."

Cavendish, who was a flag-bearer for the Isle of Man at the opening ceremony, won the island's last Commonwealth gold medal in the scratch race on the track at Melbourne in 2006.

However, he has not competed at the Commonwealth Games since 2010 where he finished seventh in the road race.

Britain's Ethan Hayter is on the verge of winning the Tour of Poland after taking the overall lead with one day to go by finishing third in the time trial on stage six.

Dutchman Thymen Arensman won the stage, finishing seven seconds quicker than American Magnus Sheffield, who beat Ineos Grenadiers team-mate Hayter by one second.

Hayter, 23, took over the leader's yellow jersey from Sergio Higuita, who dropped to eighth overall, and will take an 11-second lead over Arensman into Friday's final stage.

Stage seven is a mainly flat 177.8 km run from Skawina to Krakow.