Mark Cavendish has been diagnosed with Epstein-Barr Virus – commonly known as Glandular Fever or Mononucleosis - and will need time out to make a gradual return to training and fitness. The virus was identified during a quarterly UCI blood test.
Cavendish missed the entire cobbled Classics season and has not raced since Milan-San Remo after picking up what his Dimension Data team described as an ‘overuse’ injury on the final stage of Tirreno Adriatico. He is recovering from that injury but faces further time out of action to allow his body to recover from Mononucleosis.
"Mark has been experiencing some unexplained fatigue during training," team doctor, Jarrad Van Zuydam, said in a statement released after Cyclingnews broke the story of Cavendish's diagnosis.
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"Recent blood analysis has revealed him to have infectious mononucleosis caused by the Epstein Barr Virus. Unfortunately, there is no effective specific treatment against the virus but rest will be required to aid his recovery. His training load and symptoms will be monitored very carefully and he will make a gradual, step-wise return to full training and racing. It is difficult to give an accurate estimate of when we can expect him back at full fitness but we are hopeful of a significant improvement of his symptoms over the next 2 weeks."
Dimension Data had hoped that Cavendish would return to racing later this month at the Tour de Romandie. However that was before Wednesday's full diagnosis was made. It now looks likely that Cavendish will miss both Romandie and next month's Tour of California.
Speaking to Cyclingnews before Cavendish was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr Virus, team manager Doug Ryder, told Cyclingnews that the team were taking a cautious approach with Cavendish's comeback after his recent ankle injury. Cavendish is with Ryder in Tuscany, with the pair set to meet later on today.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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