Bellis back at Pendle

Bellis: Returns to action

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Jonny Bellis will return to competition at the British National Road Race Championships later this month following a life-threatening crash.

The 21-year-old was left fighting for his life following a horrific motor scooter accident last September but will take to the start line for the 180-kilometre event in Lancashire on June 27.

Bellis (Team Saxo Bank) lines up alongside his fellow Manxman Mark Cavendish (Team HTC-Columbia), who is many people's favourite for the Tour de France green jersey.

Bellis, who has returned to his Quarratta training base in Italy where the accident happened, has minimal expectations for the race, which takes place in Pendle.

He told Press Association Sport: "There wasn't much chance of me surviving at the beginning.

"But now my health's fine and my fitness is improving.

"There's still a lot to learn to do, but I'm just going to ride the nationals to get back into the routine of racing.

"I don't expect much of myself - I'll just ride and see how long I can do.

"If it's 10k or 100k, I'll just be happy to pin a number on."

Strong Team Sky contingent

Bradley Wiggins is one of eight Team Sky riders named, but there is speculation he will skip the event to concentrate on the Tour de France, which begins on July 3 in Rotterdam.

Wiggins finished fourth in the 2009 Tour and is aiming to be the first Briton to finish on the podium on the Champs Elysees on July 25.

Russell Downing, Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard, Steve Cummings and Peter Kennaugh are expected to start, but Ben Swift and Chris Froome are fitness doubts.

David Millar (Team Garmin-Transitions) has been named in the starting list, as have Cervelo Test Team trio Daniel Lloyd, Jeremy Hunt and Roger Hammond and Adam Blythe (Omega Pharma-Lotto).

Defending champion Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp) leads the British-based entries.

In the women's race, Nicole Cooke will be aiming for her 11th title - her 10th in a row - but will face a stiff challenge from Emma Pooley and Lizzie Armitstead (both Cervelo Test Team).