According to a report in Belgian daily Het Nieuwsblad Mark Cavendish might star in the Ghent Six Days Race next month as the partner of Omega Pharma-Quick Step teammate and home crowd favourite Iljo Keisse.

Six years ago Cavendish participated in the Ghent Six when he partnered Bradley Wiggins as the British duo failed to make the podium in a race won by Iljo Keisse and partner Robert Bartko. Cavendish recently raced on the famous velodrome when he lined up in the scratch race and the Madison at the International Belgian Open. In the former he was bested by Dutchman Wim Stroetinga, while he was third in the Madison alongside compatriot Owain Doull as the event was won by Belgians Kenny De Ketele and Jasper De Buyst.

The International Belgian Open marked Cavendish’s first excursion with the British track team since the 2009 world championships and it may have been the launching pad for Cavendish’ bid to be part of  the British 2016 Olympic Games track team, as he notched up the qualifying points necessary to compete in a round of the World Cup this winter.

A year ago, Bradley Wiggins (Sky) hinted at his wish to participate in the Ghent Six Days Race but organiser Patrick Sercu admitted that he did not have the financial means necessary to secure the participation of the then reigning Tour de France winner.

“I don’t know if it will happen. It would be nice but it’s not a must for me,” Keisse told Het Nieuwsblad. “I don’t want Mark’s season to be overloaded. If he wants to participate, it makes sense that I ride with him. But if Mark does not come, then I’ll find someone else.”

Meanwhile, Six Days ace Keisse will begin his Six Day campaign in Grenoble on October 23, just ten days after finishing his road season at Paris-Tours. “That’s no problem. I’ll take two or three days off the bike now,” he said. “Six-day races are a very different effort and I see it as the ideal way to spend the winter.”