Cavendish is not expected to race on the track at the Olympics again

British cycling boss David Brailsford expects Mark Cavendish to make up for his 2008 Olympic disappointment with victory in the London 2012 road race.

Cavendish was the only GB track team member to miss out on a Beijing medal.

But Brailsford told the BBC's Inside Sport: "One big target for 2012 is the road race. We've never won it and this is the chance for Mark to step up.

"It was a big disappointment for him but he'll get over it and he'll be back to win it, I've got no doubt about it."

Brailsford added: "The course in London will suit the sprinters.

"We need to make sure it comes into a bunch finish, get him well positioned and let him do his stuff and hopefully nobody will be there to compete with him."

In an interview on the same programme, Manx sprinter Cavendish, 23, hit out at Britain's obsession with the Olympics, saying winning a gold medal is not within his top-10 career priorities.

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He is not expected to compete in the track events in London but Brailsford said "without a doubt" the sprinter will feature for Team GB in the road race.

He also expressed sympathy with Cavendish's sentiments, saying: "In professional road cycling there are big goals he's already won - massive races which kind of weigh up against the Olympics."

Cavendish won four stages of last year's Tour de France and the prestigious Milan-San Remo in March.

He begins the Giro d'Italia on Saturday expecting to challenge for six stage victories.

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