World champion disqualified
Sagan ousted after causing crash that injures Cavendish.
VITTEL, FRANCE — Mark Cavendish has been forced out of the Tour de France after suffering a fractured shoulder blade and injured hand in a serious crash caused by world champion Peter Sagan, who was disqualified from cycling’s showcase event.
Hours after Tuesday’s crash in a chaotic sprint finish to Stage 4, Cavendish’s Team Dimension Data said on its Twitter feed that Cavendish had been forced to withdraw.
“I’m obviously massively disappointed to get this news,” Cavendish said. “The team was incredible today.
“They executed to perfection what we wanted to do this morning. I feel I was in a good position to win and to lose that and even having to leave the Tour, a race I have built my whole career around, is really sad.”
The crash occurred about 50 meters from the end of the stage, when Sagan elbowed Cavendish, who was squeezed against the barriers to his right. Cavendish slammed into the barriers and two riders plowed over the British sprint specialist, a winner of 30 Tour stages.
“Mark suffered a fracture to the right scapula,” Team Dimension Data doctor Adrian Rotunno said. “Fortunately no surgery is required at this stage, and most importantly there is no nerve damage. He’s been withdrawn from the race for obvious medical reasons.”
Race jury president Philippe Marien of the UCI said race rules allowed organizers to disqualify riders in “serious cases.”
“We have decided to disqualify Peter Sagan from the 2017 Tour de France after the tumultuous sprint here in Vittel, where he endangered several riders,” Marien said.
After the crash, Sagan went over to see how Cavendish was and patted him on the back. The Slovak said he apologized to Cavendish.
It’s already been a difficult year for Cavendish, who came down with mononucleosis in April.
“If there was a mistake, then you have to congratulate the jury for having the courage to punish the world champion,” said France’s Arnaud Demare, who won Tuesday’s stage. Another crash earlier delayed Tour leader Geraint Thomas, but the Welshman retained the yellow jersey.
Thomas leads Sky teammate and three-time champion Chris Froome by 12 seconds, with third-place Michael Matthews of Australia also 12 seconds back.