Cycling: Mark Cavendish sent airborne after crashing into bollard during race

Mark Cavendish has been in the wars this year. Photo / AP

British road racing cyclist Mark Cavendish was sent flying over his handlebars today after colliding with a traffic bollard in Italy.

Competing in the Milano Sanremo, the cyclist was riding along quickly when he hit the bollard and flipped through the air landing in a heap on his back.

Cavendish fractured a rip and suffered ankle ligament damage in the crash but is said to be in a reasonable condition. He will undergo further medical assessments later today.

Before today's accident, Cavendish had entered the race with a broken rib and has suffered a couple of head injuries earlier this year.

The Milano Sanremo race is the longest professional one-day race in cycling (298km long), with the first race taking place in 1907.

Der Crash von Mark Cavendish bei Milan-San Remo. Damn!#MilanSanRemo pic.twitter.com/jEvjSK6rHP

— René Bugner (@RNBWCV) March 17, 2018

Cavendish crashed 10 kilometres away from the finish line, with his team confirming he sustained no serious injuries in a statement.

"Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka can confirm that, thankfully, Mark Cavendish sustained no serious injury following a major crash within 10 kilometres of the finish of Milan-Sanremo on Saturday.

"The 32-year-old fell heavily after striking a bollard and was immediately assisted by race medical personnel, after which he was taken to a local hospital.

"Following medical imaging, it was determined that he avoided major injury.

Cavendish flew over his handlebars as riders zipped past. Photo / Twitter

"He did sustain a new rib fracture (5th) on the same side as the one that he damaged in the opening stage of Tirreno-Adriatico (7th).

"He also has bruising and abrasions consistent with the scale of the crash as well as a possible "ligamentous ankle injury" that will require further assessment once he returns home on Saturday.

"The team would like to extend a big thanks to everybody who has sent messages of concern; and we will keep you updated as and when, should additional information become available."

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