Britain’s Mark Cavendish drops out of Tour of Missouri race with infection

Cavendish withdraws from Tour of Missouri

ST. JAMES, Mo. — Britain’s Mark Cavendish has withdrawn from the Tour of Missouri because of an infection his team says has spread to his lungs.

Cavendish had been second overall in the weeklong race after winning the first two stages and finishing fifth Wednesday.

Team Columbia-HTC announced his withdrawal Thursday as the fourth stage was getting under way, a 109-mile road race from St. James to Jefferson City.

The team said Cavendish had been fighting the infection since arriving in the U.S. He planned to rest in Missouri for a few days before returning to Europe.

Cavendish was a six-time stage winner in this year’s Tour de France and is widely considered one of cycling’s fastest riders.