Mark Cavendish snubbed from Tour de France again after team-mate Tim Declercq tests positive for Covid

Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl have announced that Tim Declercq will miss this year’s Tour de France after testing positive for Covid. Florian Senechal will be his replacement, meaning that Mark Cavandish remains sidelined reserve ahead of the race.

Ad/> The Manxman was left out of the initial eight-man team, with Fabio Jackobsen selected as the team’s preferred sprinter, and is still set to miss out with Senechal called up as first reserve. Tour de FranceCavendish misses out on Tour de France, Alaphilippe also absentA DAY AGO The revised team line-up for the Tour, which begins on July 1 in Copenhagen, is now made up of Kasper Asgreen, Andrea Bagioli, Mattia Cattaneo, Mikkel Honore, Jakobsen, Yves Lampaert, Michael Morkov and Senechal.

On Delercq’s absence, Quick-Step tweeted: “We are sorry to announce that Tim Declercq has tested positive for Covid-19 and will not take part in this year's Tour de France. “He will be replaced for the race by French champion Florian Senechal.

We wish Tim a speedy recovery!” /> Tour de France 2022 – Green jersey and polka dot jersey guide: Van Aert & Guerreiro favourites? Thomas part of three-pronged Ineos leadership at Tour de France, Pidcock makes debut ‘It won’t get better than this’ – Jakobsen ready for Tour bow Cavendish’s disappointment comes just days after winning the British national road race championship in Dumfries and Galloway. Last year, the 37-year-old equalled Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 Tour de France stage wins.

Senechal himself is also in good form having claimed the French road race title for the first time in his career in Cholet last weekend. Quick-Step are also set to be without world champion Julian Alaphilippe, who is only just returning to action after his recovery from a