Mark Cavendish crash Abu Dhabi Tour neutral zone

Top sprinter Mark Cavendish crashed right behind race director's car in the neutralised section. As a result, he he is now out of Abu Dhabi Tour. He tried to continue but called it a day after about 5km.

Cavendish crashes right behind race director's car in neutralised zone

Mark Cavendish has crashed of the Abu Dhabi Tour in the neutral zone of the opening stage.

The Dimension Data sprinter came down at low speed.

It appears he was the victim of some sudden braking by riders behind the race director’s car.

Video: Was Cav already falling before Sagan threw elbow? Take a look

And while he was up off the ground and speaking to those around him, he is out of the race.

He initially got back on his bike and back into the peloton around 5km into the race.

However, before remounting he seemed to be complaining about is neck or shoulder.

And Dimension Data said he fell on the shoulder he had broken last year.

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"Mark Cavendish went down in the neutral zone, falling on the same shoulder he broke last year," his team said.

"He got up and chased back to the peloton but had to abandon soon after. More info to come after medical check."

Cavendish suffered that 2017 shoulder break in a crash with Peter Sagan at the Tour de France.

As a result, the British rider was forced out of the race. Furthermore, Sagan was disqualified even though replays sh

He December he was absolved of any blame for the crash. That formed part of an agreement with the UCI before a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing.

The UCI said it would introduce a video commissaire to avoid a repeat of the mistake it made in ejecting the rider from the race.