Dimension Data boss doubts Mark Cavendish will be able to start Tour de France stage five
Doug Ryder says they can only hope Cavendish will be able to continue at the Tour de France after his crash on stage four
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Dimension Data says that Mark Cavendish's shoulder "does not look good" after crashing with Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and does not think that he can start in the fifth stage of the Tour de France.
The jury disqualified Peter Sagan after he drifted into Manx cyclist in the final 150 metres of the stage to Vittel. Cavendish with his right arm in a sling had to go to the hospital.
"His shoulder does not look good so we'll have to wait and see, we can only hope," team principal Doug Ryder said when asked if he thought Cavendish could continue.
"He's a tough guy but that was a hard crash. We can only hope but I'm not sure."
Cavendish left the bus and was forced to take his anti-doping test first before his x-rays.
"It doesn't look good, we have to wait for the x-rays, but let's hope that it's nothing that severe, but it didn't look that great from my perspective. But I'm not a doctor."
The jury decided later after Ryder spoke that Sagan should go home. Sagan won stage three on Monday and won the green points jersey in the last five editions of the Tour de France.
The incident happened with Cavendish, the Tour de France's most successful sprinter. Cavendish counts 30 stage wins and is nearly the record held by Eddy Merckx at 34. He fought to recover from glandular fever just to be on the start line for the 2017 edition.
"It was ridiculous, that wasn't racing as it should be," Ryder said.
"At that speed, there are instincts that happen. I don't think anybody does anything deliberately. It happened, and I don't think it's right.
"To be disqualified ... that affects him and his race, but it doesn't help us in terms of Mark and his career. He's a legend in the sport and that's really disappointing.
"You can see all the guys moving over and Peter's elbow moved off the bar after. Sprinter are sprinters but the deviation is pretty drastic around there."
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Bikes of the Atlas Mountain Race 2023: from comfort gravellers to speed weapons, here’s what caught our eye
Covering 1,300km / 800mi of Morocco’s gravel roads and mountain passes, the Atlas Mountain Race demands a tech-heavy approach for its 3+ days of bikepacking racing
By Stefan Abram • Published
-
British champion Cameron Mason hoping for rain at Cyclo-cross World Championships
British national champion says patience will be the key in what’s expected to be a fast race in Hoogerheide, the Netherlands
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
In celebration of Peter Sagan, cycling's rock and roll frontman
As the three-time world champion is set to call time on his career in the WorldTour at the end of 2023, we thought we would take a look back at the glory days
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Speed Demons of the peloton: The six best sprinters of 2022
We take a look at the standout performers of the fast men and women in the professional scene this year
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
British UCI Continental team makes pitch for Mark Cavendish’s signature
Saint Piran boss Ricci Pascoe says he would gladly provide a short term place for Cavendish, if it helped him to achieve Tour de France dream
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
B&B Hotels, the team that was set to sign Mark Cavendish, collapses
Multiple riders left scrambling to find places on alternative teams after demise of French ProTeam confirmed
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Wout van Aert moots building gravel world championships into 2023 programme
Belgian rider says gravel racing has a ‘great future’ as he considers worlds participation next year
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
B&B Hôtels boss: 'Mark Cavendish wants to be with us. I want him to be with us.'
Team's hunt for sponsors intensifies after missing UCI registration deadline
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Time running out for B & B Hotels, the team expected to sign Mark Cavendish
Team still without major sponsors as UCI impose deadline of 22 November for team to complete registration for new season
By Tom Thewlis • Published