Mark Cavendish was involved in (read: pretty much created) a crash in the final 400 meters of the opening stage of the Tour de France. While trying to create some room for himself to maneuver, he pushed against Simon Gerrans and the two bikes become entangled and they both went flying. Miraculously, neither man was run over as they lay sprawled out on the asphalt, but Cavendish landed hard on his shoulder and was in obvious pain.
The crash allowed Marcel Kittel of Germany to win the first stage in similar fashion to his opening-stage win last year. It's suspected that Cavendish suffered a broken collarbone and will be out for the remainder of the Tour.
The Tour, which began in England for just the second time, opened in Leeds and the stage finish was in Harrogate, North Yorkshire this year, Cavendish's mother's home town. Cavendish was looking for his 26th stage win and first yellow jersey.
[NBCSN]