Wednesday 16 November 2016 01:03, UK
Mark Cavendish admits it may be difficult to keep his emotions in check as he prepares to compete in what is expected to be the final race of Sir Bradley Wiggins' career in Ghent.
Cavendish will partner five-time Olympic champion and former Tour de France winner Wiggins at the Ghent Six Day event which begins on Tuesday and finishes on Sunday.
After winning his fifth Olympic gold in Rio, Wiggins suggested that the team pursuit triumph was the "fairytale" conclusion and that Ghent would be the ideal final appearance.
Cavendish, who competed alongside Wiggins at last month's London Six Day, says his focus has been on coming into this competition at peak fitness so he can send Wiggins out on a high.
Speaking about Wiggins' impending retirement, Cavendish told Sky Sports News HQ: "To be fair I haven't thought about that.
"I have been trying to concentrate on being good for Ghent. I didn't want to come to come to the last race and let him down or not be in better condition for it.
"As we get closer to Sunday I might get a bit emotional but at the minute we are just trying to concentrate on the racing."
Wiggins and Cavendish are part of a strong field in Ghent. They were beaten into second in London by Moreno De Pauw and Kenny De Ketele, and the Belgian duo will partner each other again this week.
Belgium's Iljo Keisse - winner in 2015 with Michael Morkov of Denmark - will be competing alongside Italy's Elia Viviani, who won Olympic omnium gold ahead of Cavendish.
Australia's Cameron Meyer and Callum Scotson are another strong unit, while Britons Mark Stewart and Ollie Wood are also in action.
Cavendish knows he and Wiggins will have their work cut out for them to claim victory on Sunday.
Cavendish said: "We have both been training hard. We both want to win. We have made no secrets about that but there are other strong competitors here.
"Ghent is the most historical and the most special of all the six days. It is the one that everyone wants to win.
"It is not going to be easy. I tried two years ago with Iljo Keisse and I was second so we'll see what happens and I will just try my best."
