British sprinter Mark Cavendish has withdrawn from the Tour de France in a bid to improve his medal chances at next month’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
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Per Cycling Weekly’s Gregor Brown, Cavendish previously denied there were plans for him to leave the Tour during the final rest day. But what memories he has created.
The Slovak, who won his third Tour stage this year and seventh in total, said it was a technical mistake that cost Kristoff what would have been his third stage success at the race after two in 2014.
The rolling 209-km (130-mile) stage from Moirans-en-Montagne to the Swiss capital of Bern resembled the route of a single-day classic, with a section on cobblestones before a slight uphill finish.
Sagan also won the world title with a late breakaway in the USA a year ago.
Froome kept his 1-minute, 47-second lead over Dutch rider Bauke Mollema, with Britain’s Adam Yates in third, 2:45 back.
The 31-year-old’s Team Dimension Data squad announced Cavendish will not resume the race in Tuesday’s 17th stage, ending his participation on the second rest day.
Team Sky rider Froome is a two-time Tour victor and during his victories in 2013 and 2015 he had to contend with consistent allegations of doping.
“I want to say thank you to them, along with all the fans for their support and encouragement, today and over the past 16 stages”.
During post-Stage 16 Tour de’ France interviews, Sagan had stated that his most recent win was an indication that “destiny was turning his way”, as shown during the young racer’s lunge for the finish line.
Dennis, 26, who won the opening stage time trial at the Tour past year and wore the race leader’s yellow jersey for a day, was sitting 126th overall at more than two and a half hours behind leader Chris Froome.
Sagan said he believed Katusha’s Kristoff made a critical error that gifted him the win, throwing his bike forward a moment too late.
Briton Adam Yates of Orica-BikeExchange is third, two minutes and 45 seconds back and leading the young riders’ classification, with Movistar’s Nairo Quintana fourth, a further 14 seconds down.
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For race leader Chris Froome, who finished safely in a much-reduced peloton alongside his main overall rivals, there s nothing lucky about what Sagan does.
