Mark Cavendish’s Tour de France journey came to an abrupt end on stage eight as he suffered a crash, resulting in his withdrawal from the race. The 38-year-old cyclist, known as the Manxman, had previously announced that this would be his final Tour de France as he intends to retire at the end of the season.
Cavendish, widely recognized as one of cycling’s greatest sprinters, entered this year’s Tour with an impressive record of 34 stage wins, tying with Belgian legend Eddy Merckx. However, his attempt to secure a record-breaking 35th stage win was foiled by Jasper Philipsen during stage seven.
The unfortunate incident occurred during the 200.7km transitional stage between Libourne and Limoges, approximately 60km from the finish line. Cavendish was involved in a seemingly harmless crash with Pello Bilbao, resulting in a suspected broken collarbone. He was promptly attended to by medical professionals and transported to the hospital in an ambulance. His team, Astana Qazaqstan, confirmed that he was compelled to abandon the race.
The Tour de France expressed their sympathies, stating, “Heartbreaking for the Manx Missile.” Cavendish’s departure from the race marks the fifth withdrawal due to crashes this year, following Enric Mas, Richard Carapaz, Jacopo Guarnieri, and Luis Leon Sanchez.
Out of his 14 appearances at the Tour de France since his debut in 2007, Cavendish has been unable to finish the race on seven occasions. Following a two-year hiatus, he made a remarkable comeback in 2021, winning four stages and equaling the record of five-time Tour winner Merckx.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Mark Cavendish, Tour de France, retirement, crash, sprinter
Q: What happened to Mark Cavendish in the Tour de France?
A: Mark Cavendish crashed during stage eight of the Tour de France, resulting in his withdrawal from the race. He suffered a suspected broken collarbone and had to abandon the competition.
Q: Will this be Mark Cavendish’s last Tour de France?
A: Yes, Mark Cavendish had already announced that this Tour de France would be his last. He plans to retire from professional cycling at the end of the season.
Q: How many stage wins does Mark Cavendish have in the Tour de France?
A: Prior to his crash, Mark Cavendish had an impressive record of 34 stage wins in the Tour de France. This tied him with Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx.
Q: Did Mark Cavendish break any records in this year’s Tour de France?
A: Unfortunately, Mark Cavendish was unable to secure a record-breaking 35th stage win. He was denied the victory by Jasper Philipsen during stage seven.
Q: How many times has Mark Cavendish not finished the Tour de France?
A: Out of his 14 appearances in the Tour de France since his debut in 2007, Mark Cavendish has been unable to finish the race on seven occasions.
Q: Who else has withdrawn from the Tour de France due to crashes?
A: Apart from Mark Cavendish, several other riders have withdrawn from this year’s Tour de France due to crashes. These include Enric Mas, Richard Carapaz, Jacopo Guarnieri, and Luis Leon Sanchez.
More about Mark Cavendish, Tour de France, retirement, crash, sprinter
- Tour de France Official Website
- Mark Cavendish – Official Website
- Eddy Merckx – Official Website
- Astana Qazaqstan Team Official Website
- Cyclingnews – Tour de France Coverage
- BBC Sport – Mark Cavendish out of race after crash
- The Guardian – Mark Cavendish out of Tour de France
5 comments
with cavendish out, it’s interesting to see how the dynamics of the race will change. sprint finishes won’t be the same without him. looking forward to seeing who emerges as the new sprinting star.
crashes are so common in the tour de france, it’s always heart-wrenching to see riders’ dreams shattered. cavendish joins the list of riders forced to abandon this year. hoping for safer races in the future!
the manxman had such a great comeback in 2021, winning four stages and tying with merckx. it’s a shame his tour ended like this. wishing cavendish a speedy recovery and a fantastic retirement season!
omg mark cavendish crashed in the tour de france!!1 so sad he had to quit 🙁 hope he’s ok and recovers quickly. he’s a legend, one of the best sprinters ever!
i can’t believe this is mark cavendish’s last tour de france! he’s been amazing over the years. really wanted him to break the record for stage wins, but luck wasn’t on his side. still, what a career!