Omega Pharma-QuickStep's Mark Cavendish has revealed that he is still struggling for fitness ahead of the Tour of Britain, which gets underway in Liverpool tomorrow.
Cavendish, 29, is still recovering from shoulder surgery after his Tour de France-ending crash in Harrogate, but is determined to compete in his home race.
"Realistically you have to say that I am not in my best condition after the last few months I've had," Cavendish said on tourofbritain.co.uk.
"I'm racing this week because this is my national Tour, Britain's big race, and I always want to support it when I can.
"It's always a treat racing on home soil in front of big British crowds. I'm just going to enjoy myself and see what the week brings."
Team Sky's Sir Bradley Wiggins will also take part in the race to defend the title which he won last year.
