LONDON, June 16, 2011 – HTC Highroad rider Mark Cavendish has played down media reports in Britain that he is set to join compatriot Bradley Wiggins at Team Sky next season.

The report in Thursday’s Dail Mail claimed that the Manxman, who has 15 stage wins in the Tour de France to his name, will sign a deal worth £1.5 million ($2.4m) to start in 2012.

There has been no official comment from either team but Cavendish posted an angry response on Twitter.

“As always, I can’t go 1 race without some sort of shit going on. At least it’s not a crash this time! I will say I’m committed…,” he tweeted.

“@HTCHighroad until the end of this year, and I’m concentrating now on #TourDeFrance.”

Cavendish also claimed that quotes attributed to him in the story were nine months old.

Riders are not permitted to comment on team changes, under the International Cyling Union’s rules, until August 1.

Cavendish is currently taking part in the Tour of Switzerland, tuning up for this year’s Tour de France, which starts on July 2.