Mark Cavendish abandons Tour de France after crash | Video | Sticky Bottle

*Mark Cavendish is out of the Tour de France after a crash; the British sprinting legend leaving his last Tour in the back of an ambulance*

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team) has left the Tour de France in the back of an ambulance after crashing during today's stage 8 and being unable to continue.

What appeared to be a relatively minor incident - that seemed to result in no injury to other riders - saw Cavendish fall to the ground and stay there. Though he tried to get up initially, he was forced to lay back down surrounded by his team mates.

The British rider appeared to he holding his shoulder, or collar bone, and though his team mates waited, they soon moved on, offering a sign that Cavendish's race was about to end. Moments later a team mechanic took his bike away to put on the team's car and Cavendish was helped into an ambulance.

Astana Qazaqstan Team said: "Mark Cavendish crashed 60km from finish with Pello Bilbao and was forced to abandon. He left the race in the ambulance. Updates will follow as soon as there is more news."

Cavendish had finished 2nd yesterday on the stage into Bordeaux, missing his chance at a proper sprint when his gears malfunctioned and continually switched between the 11 and 12 sprockets. He had come into his Tour de France with 34 stage wins, putting him equal top of the all-timer stage winners' list with the great Eddy Merckx.

Cavendish just needed one more win to take the record outright. He had continued his career - after a desperate search for a team last year - in a bid to roll the dice again at the Tour and take the record. A stage win at the Giro - on the final day into Rome - back in May suggested he was on course for a good Tour, and that impression was strengthened with his performance of 24 hours ago.

However, he is now out of the race. It is unclear if he might extend his career by one more season to come back and have another go at the record. However, now aged 38 years, this season and this Tour had been billed as the last of a pro career that began back in 2005 with German Continental squad, Team Sparkasse,

More to come.

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😢 Abatido y desolado, así se despide Mark Cavendish del que puede ser su último Tour. #TourRTVE8J

Mirando a la nada y con el brazo en cabestrillo, el histórico sprinter de la Isla de Man dice adiós al #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/45AhABiE5P

— Teledeporte (@teledeporte) July 8, 2023

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀! 💥

The Astana Qazaqstan clutches his shoulder as he attempts to get up 😬#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/jVkourXABk

— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) July 8, 2023