Olympic, World and European champion Kennaugh, who won his team's only medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, said: "Unfortunately, I won't be able to compete at the Commonwealth Games as they clash with the Ardennes Classics which are races I am targeting this season.

"I wish all my Isle of Man teammates the best of luck and I'm sure they will bring home some medals."

Kennaugh, who signed for UCI WorldTeam Bora–Hansgrohe this year after leaving Team Sky, won a silver medal in the points race at Glasgow 2014. 

The Isle of Man will be represented by 32 athletes in eight sports at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast from April 4 to 15.

The team includes Mark Cavendish, the 2011 world road race champion and winner of 30 stages in the Tour de France. 

He won a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the scratch race at Melbourne 2006. 

Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association team manager Trevor Taubman supported Kennaugh's decision to miss Gold Coast 2018. 

"We fully understand Pete's position," he said. 

"The start of the professional cycling calendar coincides with the Games in Australia, so these clashes are inevitable.

"We fully support Peter and wish him every success."

The Ardennes Classics are three one-day races held in April.

The event opens with the Amstel Gold Race in Limburg in The Netherlands, before the riders move onto the La Flèche Wallonne in the Belgian region of Wallonia.

The last race is the Liège–Bastogne–Liège, also due to take place in Wallonia.