The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
World champion thrown out of Tour de France for Cavendish clash
Doubt over Manxman, Tour over for world champion
Mark Cavendish could still start stage five of the Tour de France today despite suffering multiple injuries in a crash which saw world champion Peter Sagan disqualified from the race.
Sagan nudged Cavendish into the barriers just 120 metres from the line as they sprinted into Vittel, sending the Manxman to hospital for tests on his right shoulder and hand.
The Team Dimension Data rider had not sounded optimistic immediately after the 207.5km stage from Mondorf-les-Bains ended, but initial X-rays found no broken bones, leaving open the possibility he will be on the start line in Vittel today.
“I’m OK,” Cavendish said. “I’m in a little bit of pain and I’ll go for a few more tests now. But we’ll see. I’ve done the shoulder before so I know how that feels but I’m OK. Got a couple of stitches in my finger.”
Asked about his chances of continuing in the race, he said: “If it doesn’t show anything I’ll try. But in terms of pain, I’ve done my shoulder twice before and I’m in more pain now than I was for one of my shoulders, so that doesn’t make me too optimistic just on feeling.
“But I’m not a doctor so if I can’t make it work I’ll see. But I’m in a little bit of pain right now, I’ve got no movement.”
Sagan was initially docked 30 seconds for his role in the crash, but the race jury looked at the incident again before announcing the Slovakian’s participation – and his bid to win a record-equalling sixth straight green jersey – is over.
Cavendish, a 30-time Tour stage winner, had fought for three months to overcome the Epstein-Barr virus just to make it to the start line at the weekend, and an early exit would be a bitter blow.
He said: “I was just following Demare, and Sagan came over.
“I get on with Peter well, but I don’t get the elbow – I’m not a fan of him putting his elbow in me like that.”
Bora-Hansgrohe rider Sagan visited the Dimension Data bus after the finish to check on Cavendish.
“Mark was coming pretty fast from the back,” said Sagan, winner of stage three 24 hours earlier. “I tried but didn’t have time to react to go left. He came to me and I had to defend.”
Asked if he had apologised for the crash, he added: “For sure, because it’s not nice to crash like that.”
The incident happened moments after another crash had sent Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas to the deck in the race leader’s yellow jersey.
Thomas was fine to continue, losing no time as the incidents occurred inside the final three kilometres, while Chris Froome managed to skirt around it.
Thomas continues to lead from Froome by 12 seconds, with Michael Matthews of Team Sunweb on the same time in third place overall.
Arnaud Demare of FDJ won the stage for his first career Tour victory, but all eyes were on the carnage behind him.