For me, by the time I finally realised at the age of 18 that I didn't have strong enough legs or the mental toughness to make it to the top of the sport, it was already too late.

I'd already burned my bridges at home by devoting all of my time to bicycle racing.

Aldag says that the team will not yet put a date on his return, for fear of forcing him into training too hard too early and damaging even more of his season.

Cycling left a void in my life – which I tried to fill by running off to join the Army.

Frustrated ambition can have unforeseen consequences. That experience has never left me – but I'd be lying if I said I've always adhered to the lesson it taught.

"We will not announce now that Mark is there at the [Critérium du] Dauphiné and the Tour de Suisse" Aldag continued. Because if you presuppose something, he will train towards that goal and maybe he resumes three or four days too early. He also gets regular blood tests to check how things are with his values.” Undoubtedly there will be concerns for the team that Cavendish will not be able to race the Tour de France at all.

Before you know it, he could relapse and his season is over. However, Aldag remains confident that if he can get fit in time for the race then form will not be an issue.