2023-07-08 16:14:02
LIMOGES, France — Sprint ace Mark Cavendish crashed and was forced to retire from the Tour de France during the eighth stage of the world’s most prestigious cycling race on Saturday.
Cavendish crashed when he was 64 kilometers from the finish as he rode behind the peloton at a moderate speed.
Television footage showed the veteran runner lying on the ground, then clutching his right shoulder in pain.
Cavendish entered an ambulance for treatment before news of his discharge.
The British rider finished second on Friday’s stage when Jasper Philipsen prevented the rider known as the ‘Manx Missile’ from claiming his 35th Tour stage win, which would have been a race record.
Cavendish equaled Belgian Eddy Merckx’s mark of 34 victories in the 2021 edition of the Tour, 13 years following his first success.
Cavendish, who has never won the Tour, unlike five-time champion Merckx, will retire at the end of the season.
Pogacar saddened by the fate of Cavendish
Tadej Pogacar said he was “very sad” on Saturday to see Mark Cavendish, one of his “youth idols”, abandon the Tour de France following a fall during the 8th stage.
“When I heard during the race that Mark had fallen, I was really very sad. Everyone wanted him to win a stage. He was in good shape. Yesterday (Friday) he was very close. It’s really ugly, ”said the Slovenian, double winner of the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021.
“He was one of my childhood idols. I still remember when I watched him on television, sprinting with his HTC jersey on the Champs Elysées. I wanted to have the same style, the same legs,” added Pogacar, 24.
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