Mark Cavendish scrapes through first Tour de France mountain stage as he finishes just 28 seconds inside time limit
Cavendish finished in group of 11 other riders including Marcel Kittel and Dylan Groenewegen
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Mark Cavendish and fellow sprinters Marcel Kittel and Dylan Groenewegen scraped through the first Tour de France mountain stage by the skin of their teeth as they finished just 28 seconds inside the time limit.
With stage winner Julian Alaphilippe completing the 158.5km stage between Annecy and Le Grand-Bornand in a time of 4-25-27 at an average speed of 35.8kmh, the time limit for the stage was set at 13 per cent of Alaphilippe's time, meaning that riders had to finish in less than 34-30 in arrears to avoid being eliminated from the race.
For the majority of the riders this was not a problem, with two large groups coming in at 25-03 and 27-30 to comfortably make the time cut. However there was a nervous wait for some at the finish line as the clock ticked towards the time limit of 4-59-57 with no sign of three of the biggest sprinters in the race.
But shortly before 18:35 local time, the team managers of Dimension Data, Katusha-Alpecin, and LottoNL-Jumbo were able to breathe a collective sigh of relief as a group of 11 riders containing Cavendish, Kittel, and Groenewegen alongside lead-out men Rick Zabel, Mark Renshaw, and Timo Roosen crossed the line in a time of 4-59-29, just 28 seconds inside the time limit.
The Tour's regulations allow for the commissaires to permit "particularly unlucky" riders who finish outside the time limit to continue in the race, with there also being provision for riders to continue in the race if an especially large number finish outside the time limit.
Watch: Tour de France stage 10 highlights
However this would have unlikely been applied to the 11 riders that scraped through Tuesday's stage as they did not suffer any particular bad luck and were not in a large group.
Cavendish and co. were dropped on the first major climb of the stage, the first category Col de la Croix-Fry, and will face another race against the time cut on Wednesday's stage which starts climbing the hors-categorie Montée de Bisanne almost immediately after the flag drops.
>>> Rigoberto Uran not giving up on Tour GC as ROubaix injuries cost him time in the Alps
Tour organisers estimate that the stage winner will cross the four major climbs and arrive in the finish in La Rosière in a time of roughly 3-17, meaning the gruppetto will have to finish around 27 minutes behind the winner.
However if the winner's time is slower, then the gruppetto will have to finish a few minutes less behind the winner, while they will be given a little more leeway if it is a fast day of racing.
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
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
-
Boardman SLR 8.6 review - great value but the frame outclasses the components
An affordable and dependable workhorse
By Andy Turner • Published
-
‘It’s not complicated, I can either follow or I can’t’ - Tom Pidcock on his Tour of Flanders chances
Strade Bianche winner believes that his performance on Sunday won't be hampered by recent lack of racing time
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Signing of Mark Cavendish leads to end of Scicon's Astana Qazaqstan sponsorship
Cavendish along with several other teammates currently wearing Oakley sunglasses during competition
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘That’s not bad’ - Mark Cavendish pleased with first podium finish for Astana at UAE Tour
The British road champion recorded his best race result since joining Astana Qazaqstan
By Tom Davidson • 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
-
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