Cycling: Doctors' orders rule Andy Tennant out of World Cup

The Wolverhampton rider suffered a horror crash in a routine qualifier while competing for Great Britain in the team pursuit at the European Track Championships in Berlin two weeks ago.

The crash left Tennant with what was thought to be mild concussion, but he was expected to recover in time for the Manchester World Cup, which starts a week tomorrow and forms an important part of the track winter season.

However, after extensive tests, British Cycling medical staff ordered Tennant, 30, to take an extended spell off the bike as he recovered from the concussion.

It means that for the second year running, the Shifnal-based rider has suffered an injury-jinxed start to a campaign after a virus cost him an important month of preparation last year.

But he expects to return to full training next week with the World Championships, in Holland in late February, and the Commonwealth Games in Australia next April now his main targets.

Tennant said: “It’s always disappointing when you have to pull out, I felt like I had the let the lads down in Berlin and wanted to make it right. I’ve had setbacks before, this is just another one I’ll have to deal with; I look forward to racing again, however long it takes me.

“But I will make sure I am 100 per cent right before I race competitively again.”

The World Cup returns to Manchester for the first time since 2013 and is an event many riders, including Tennant, have highlighted at the start of the season as crucial ahead of the Worlds and Commonwealth Games.

Tennant added: “There will be many more opportunities I’m sure of that. Racing in Manchester is always exciting but I will still be there cheering the lads on, just from the stands this time.

“When you race professionally you have to take on setbacks like this, we all have them and we all stick together.

“Concussion is a terrible injury to have because you can’t see it and, having never suffered from it before, I had not appreciated how much it can wipe you out.

“I have had the support of all the medical team who have been brilliant, and most importantly my wife Lauren, so I’m sure it won’t be long before I’m back out on the track.”