Mark Cavendish rushed to hospital with suspected fractured shoulder as Brit is wiped out in final sprint for line at stage four of Tour de France

Jul 04, 2017

MARK CAVENDISH has suffered a suspected fractured shoulder after he was wiped out in a horror crash in the final sprint at Tour de France stage four.

The Team Dimension Data cyclist is awaiting the results of an X-ray scan on his shoulder.

Peter Sagan appeared to throw out an elbow as Mark Cavendish crashed against the advertising hoarding

Mark Cavendish appeared to be shoulder charged - and even ELBOWED - by Peter Sagan in the final sprint — Mark Cavendish appeared to be shoulder charged – and even ELBOWED – by Peter Sagan in the final sprint

Peter Sagan appeared to jut out his elbow as towards Mark Cavendish in the final sprint for stage four

The 31-year-old was shoulder barged by world champion Peter Sagan against the advertising hoardings as he smacked against the tarmac in Vittel – and fears his Tour could be over.

Sagan has since been disqualified for causing Cavendish to crash.

Cavendish said: “I’ll definitely need stitches in this finger. Don’t know if I’ve snapped ligament in my shoulder. I’m not optimistic.

“I get on with Peter well but I’m not a fan of him putting his elbow across. I’d just like to know about the elbow.”

Sagan appeared to shoulder barge the Manx Missile as he opened up for his big final sprint.

He was squeezed into a tight avenue near the advertising hoarding, before Sagan appeared to barge into him.

Mark Cavendish up and about but bearing wounds of terrifying crash into barriers at full gas pic.twitter.com/s4fcentlVT

— Matt Dickinson (@DickinsonTimes) July 4, 2017

Mark Cavendish's team-mates rush to his aid as riders complete their final sprint in Vittel — Mark Cavendish’s team-mates rush to his aid as riders complete their final sprint in Vittel

Mark Cavendish did manage to pick himself up after medical attention and crossed the finish line on his bike, bandaged and bloodied

Mark Cavendish crosses the line nursing his right shoulder at the conclusion of the fourth stage of the Tour de France

Cavendish slid against the barriers, before smacking the road surface.

Two following riders including German sprinter John Degenkolb then ran over his prostrate body.

Mark Cavendish needs to have an x-ray on his suspected shoulder fracture

Mark Cavendish looked down in the dumps following his horrific crash

Mark Cavendish was left with a bloodied hand after the crash

Mark Cavendish revealed he needed to give a urine sample after his crash

He did pick himself up and cross the line on his bike after being bandaged up by medical staff, but early reports suggest he has a fractured shoulder, meaning his Tour is over.

Frenchman Arnaud Demare won the stage, with Slovakian Sagan second, after a frantic last few kilometres.

And inside the final yards Geraint Thomas was also involved in a crash, in a separate incident from Cavendish.

Mark Cavendish heads to hospital for x-ray on shoulder after huge crash into barriers at stage four of the Tour de France

Cavendish later revealed insult had been added to injury as he was selected for a random drugs testing.

He said: "As if going to the radiologist for my shoulder isn't enough, I've got to go and pee in a pot first."

Team Dimension Data tweeted: "Mark Cavendish hurt his shoulder and hand. On his way to hospital for further examinations. More information when available."

But the Welshman picked himself up and crossed the line in the Yellow Jersey, meaning he will hold on to the Tour de France lead.

Sagan then waited for Cavendish close to his Dimension Data team bus, to apologise for the incident.

#TDF2017

Mark Cavendish hurt his shoulder and hand. On his way to the hospital for further examinations. More information when available.

— Team Dimension Data (@TeamDiData) July 4, 2017

Tags: Cycling Tour de France

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