Mark Cavendish has deserted the Tour de France after crashing exhausting amid the peloton with 60km remaining on stage 8, visibly gripping his collarbone and initially unable to remount his bike to proceed racing.
Cavendish narrowly missed a record-breaking thirty fifth stage win on stage 7 on Saturday, outsprinted by Jasper Philipsen whereas additionally struggling a mechanical.
The dash was tumultuous, with Philipsen deviating from his racing line in a transfer that resulted in a grievance from Astana Qazakstan director Alexander Vinokourov – which in the end didn’t discover Philipsen at fault.
He hit the very best velocity of the group dash on stage 7, at a velocity of 74.7kph with 300m remaining – in a glimpse of kind that supplied some hope of seeing the Manxman break the notorious Tour de France stage win document set by Eddy Merckx.
Stage 8 was at all times prone to be a race for the punchers given the hilly terrain within the latter half, and so Cavendish was driving defensively within the peloton. Nevertheless, a conflict of wheels noticed a small variety of riders hit the bottom simply outdoors 60km to go.
Cavendish was unable to right away remount his bike, and after being supplied some medical consideration was led to an ambulance as his abandonment was confirmed by the race organisers.
It marked a tragic ending to the sprinter’s profession, following his announcement on the Giro d’Italia that this is able to be his remaining season.
Followers internationally had been hoping to see Cavendish full his profession, one which marks him as one of many biggest sprinters of all time, with a remaining stage win on the French race. His abandonment shall be a disappointment for the race, his staff, and followers throughout the globe.
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