TOTTON'S Jon Dibben underwent surgery on a fractured elbow on Tuesday, with British Cycling anticipating little impact on his bid for selection for the Rio Olympics.

Dibben, who won the Track World Championships points race in March, is a challenger to Mark Cavendish for the six-discipline omnium event in August's Games.

Cavendish was sixth in the World Championships in London before winning the non-Olympic Madison with Sir Bradley Wiggins.

Whoever is selected in the omnium will be the fifth rider for the four-man, four-kilometres team pursuit and must be able to slot into a squad seeking Olympic gold at world record-breaking pace.

Ed Clancy won bronze in the omnium event at London 2012, but the format has since changed and he is not in contention.

A story on British Cycling's official website read: "Great Britain cycling team's Jon Dibben is today undergoing surgery on his left elbow after fracturing it during the ZLM Roompot tour at the weekend.

"British Cycling's performance support team are confident Jon will return to training imminently after his surgery and his Rio ambitions remain unaffected."

Cavendish, 26 times a Tour de France stage winner and 2011 road world champion, is eager to bid for a first Olympic medal of his illustrious career in Rio.

He was ninth in the Madison with Wiggins in Beijing in 2008 and 29th in the road race on the opening day of London 2012.

British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton is confident in the ability of Cavendish to ride in the team pursuit, despite his limited experience in the discipline since his road career took off in 2007 and 2008.

Yet the team event could offer the greater likelihood of the so far elusive Olympic medal.