Tour of Britain: Tobyn Horton omitted by Madison Genesis

Horton secured back-to-back victories in London this summer

Tobyn Horton says he is disappointed to miss the Tour of Britain after failing to recover from a virus in time.

The 27-year-old had to settle for a place as first reserve in the Madison Genesis line-up, after falling ill last week and missing a preparation race.

"It's an unfortunate set of circumstances," the Sarnian told BBC Radio Guernsey.

"The team has got a strong line-up and they had to make the decision to take someone who was 100% fit and healthy."

Horton signed for Madison Genesis in November after previously racing for the Team UK Youth.

He won his first Tour Series event around Canary Wharf in June before taking victory in the London Nocturne race.

The Guernsey rider says he was in line for a place on the tour before he contracted the virus, but he is now set to miss out for the third time in his career.

"Until last week, I was told I was in but obviously things changed when I did fall ill. It was difficult to hear that and a tough call for the team to make," he continued.

"For the last two years I've prepared 100% and trained to get into the Tour of Britain. To have done all of that and not get selected just makes it really hard."

Alex Peters, Tom Stewart, Liam Holohan, Ian Bibby, Tom Scully and Mike Northey make up the Madison Genesis line-up.

The first of eight stages of the Tour of Britain takes place in Liverpool on Sunday and ends in London on 14 September.

Team Sky rider and Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins is looking to be the first to win successive titles since the race was reintroduced in 2004.