Mechanical scuppers Mark Cavendish's Milan-San Remo chances

Manxman says he dropped his chain on the ascent of the Cipressa and was unable to recover enough to stay with the lead group to the finish

Mark Cavendish finishes Stage 2 of the 2015 Tirreno-Adriatico after being held up by a crash

(Image credit: Watson)

Mark Cavendish's says his chain slipped-off his bike towards the finale of the 2015 Milan-San Remo on Sunday, causing him to lose time and possibly a second victory in the monument, which was won by Giant-Alpecin sprinter John Degenkolb.

A kilometre-and-a-half before the top of the Cipressa climb, around 23 kilometres to race to San Remo on Italy’s northwest coast, the chain came off the outside of the Etixx-Quick Step rider's Specialized bicycle. He was apparently using an unmarked SRAM chainring, instead of a team issue chainring from sponsor FSA.

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