Apparently his two appearances in the Six Days events last month reignited a passion for speed racing at the velodrome in Mark Cavendish, as according to Cyclingnews the Omega Pharma - Quick Step sprinter considers targetting track events at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Cavendish successfully competed alongside his team-mate Iljo Keisse in the Six Days of Ghent and Zurich last month in an attempt to kick-off his preparations towards the 2015 season as quick as possible and rediscover his former aggressiveles. Even though his return to the track was meant to boost his performances on the road next year, now it turns out that the renowned sprinter does not rule out a possibility of joining the Great Britain’s track programme and marking the Rio Olympics as one of major objectives for 2016.

Known mostly for his stage victories in most prestigeous road races, Cavendish in fact has a track pedegree and lined-up as a part of the British team at the Olympic Games in Beijing, finishing empty handed. Thus, it does not come as a big surprise that the Omega Pharma - Quick Step rider considers giving it another try, eager to finally add an Olympic medal to his impressive palmares. 

There’s also no wonder that Great Britain’s track team coach Shane Sutton leaves the doors open for the one of the most decorated fast finishers. 

“Cav hasn’t come out and said exactly what he wants to do but the Omnium opens doors for the likes of him, Ben Swift and obviously Jon Dibben who has ridden well this year. That KEEPS a bit of upward pressure and it keeps John on his toes but as far as Cavendish goes the door is open for him but it’s just a matter of whether he wants to walk through it or not,” Sutton told Cyclingnews. 

“He has the pedigree and won almost everything you can think about winning on the track and on the road but it’s up to Mark. We’ll keep the door open for him, it’s just a case of whether he walks through it,” added Sutton. 

“We’ve tried to encourage Mark but you’re talking about one of the greats of the sport here, and the demands on him are massive, so for us to put demands on him and to nag away at him to come back and try and win the Omnium, that’s not the way we work."

"We’re a support service to all these athletes and Mark knows that the support is there if it’s needed. If he wants to come in we’ll be 100 per cent behind him and deliver whatever he needs.”

Should Cavendish eventually decide on racing a track programme in 2016, he will of course need to qualify. According to Sutton, “he needs to start now and he’s already looking at that but it’s all down to Mark.”