First rider to abandon the 2016 Tour de France comes during stage eight's mountain test
Michael Morkov, who crashed heavily on stage one, is the first rider to abandon the 2016 Tour de France


Michael Morkov (Katusha) has become the first rider of the 2016 Tour de France to call it quits, after struggling through the heat and difficult terrain of stage eight's mountain test through the Pyrenees.
The 103rd Tour has set a new all-time record for having no abandons in the race, reaching the start of stage eight with all 198 riders still in contention.
The full start list made it through Friday's initial mountain day over the Col d'Aspin, but the four categorised climbs, including the Col du Tourmalet and the Col de Peyresourde, have proved too much for Morkov.
Watch: Tour de France stage eight highlights
The Danish rider, in the Katusha team as part of Alexander Kristoff's lead out train, suffered a nasty crash in the final straight of stage one to Utah beach and has ridden on despite his injuries.
Morkov aimed to make it to the first rest day before assessing whether to continue, but a trio of tough mountain days in the south of France and Andorra were always going to be a tough ask.
The opening week of this year's Tour has been relatively crash free, and has presented less on course issues for the riders, unlike 2015's edition which featured a tough cross-wind stage, cobbles and a race to the Mur de Huy climb all in the first week of racing.
By stage eight in the 2015 edition, the race was down to 185 riders, particularly after a nasty crash on stage three.
Thank you for reading 5 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
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
-
Mark Cavendish sprints to his second British National Road title
The Manx missile put in a stellar performance in Scotland to secure the second National road title of his illustrious career
By Pete Trifunovic • Published
-
Emma Langley drops breakaway companion in the last 500 meters to win the Stars & Stripes jersey
English-born Emma Langley (EF Education-Tibco SVB) wins the 2022 US National Road Championships, de Crescenzo settles for silver
By Clara Beard • Published
-
'I didn't know if I was going to get back on the top step': Daryl Impey on 'special' Tour de Suisse victory after breaking pelvis in 2021
South African takes first win in over two years, his first for Israel-Premier Tech
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'I'm trying to get back to my old self again' — Chris Froome achieves his best result since 2019 horror crash
Chris Froome finished 11th at the Mercan Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes on Tuesday, his best result for almost three years
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Tough' but 'nice': The Tour of the Alps through the eyes of the race's only sprinter
Giacomo Nizzolo raced the Alpine stage race despite there being no sprint opportunities
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Chris Froome: Being competitive at Tour de France would be a 'dream scenario'
The Israel-Premier Tech rider on being back at his normal level, appreciating his past, and aiming to have form late into the season
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Israel-Premier Tech withdraw from Tour of Flanders for medical reasons
WorldTour squad already depleted by illness and injury hit by second Covid positive
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Hugo Houle is still happy to be at Paris-Nice, despite being last Israel-Premier Tech rider standing
Almost fifty riders have abandoned the French stage race so far, as illness rips through the bunch
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Israel-Premier Tech down to one rider at Paris-Nice as illness rips through peloton
Neilson Powless, Matteo Trentin and Dylan Groenewegen among 18 riders to drop out ahead of stage five
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'I rode 17 stages of last year's Tour de France with a broken back - I'm not a person who gives up': a grateful Simon Clarke signs for Israel-Premier Tech
The Australian had set himself the deadline as the end of January to find a new contract
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published