Mark Cavendish says he must prioritise his ambitions on the road with Dimension Data in 2016 but knows an Olympic medal in Rio later this year would be the last thing he can “physically achieve as a cyclist”.

The Manxman, who has a property in Ongar, hopes to ride in the Omnium at this summer’s Olympic Games in Brazil.

He was the only Team Great Britain cyclist not to win a medal at the 2008 Games in Beijing and has made no secret of the fact he would desperately like to add an Olympic medal to his collection before he retires.

Speaking to The Telegraph, the 30-year-old said: “I think an Olympic medal is the only thing missing from what I can physically achieve as a cyclist.

“I can’t win the Tour de France, but I’ve pretty much won everything else that I can within my physical realm, so that’s the only thing missing.”

Cavendish will compete at the Track World Cup events this winter and the Track World Championships in London in March as he bids for Olympic selection.

However, the 26-time Tour de France stage winner knows his priority lies on the road with his new team.

He said: “My road season starts at the end of January so I have to get my base miles in, you know. I’m not a track rider, from this year I’m a Team Dimension Data rider and that must come first.

“I’m not trying just to get a place in the team. If I go to Rio, I want to get a result,” he continued.

“I still have to get selected for the Olympics, so it’s not like I’ve been selected and am basing my season around that.”