The Team Sky rider, a favourite for Olympic road race gold in London on July 28, got his Tour campaign off to a great start after sprinting to victory on stage two on Monday (July 2).

But on the second ideal stage for a bunch sprint, Cavendish was one of seven or eight riders caught in a pile-up when the peloton was travelling at 44 milers per hour less than two miles from the finish which appeared to have been caused by a fall from South African Robert Hunter.

The Isle of Man sprinter got back on his bike to finish the 214 kilometres stage from Abbeville to Rouen, but was well out of contention for a bunch sprint won by German rival Andre Greipel (pictured) ahead of Italian Alessandro Petacchi.


Cavendish got back to his team bus an angry man, but will live to fight another day according to Sky principal Dave Brailsford.

"I can't repeat what he said when he came into the bus," said Brailsford.

"Mark's lost a bit of skin but it's not bad.

"He's in a little pain but he's okay."

The crash came on the same day that the world champion was officially named as one of the five cyclists who will ride for Team GB in the road race on the first official day of competition at London 2012 alongside Chris Froome, David Millar, Ian Stannard and Bradley Wiggins.  

Although Cavendish is regarded as the fastest man on two wheels and came into the race with 20 stage wins, Team Sky are focusing all their efforts on Wiggins' bid for the yellow jersey in the Tour de France.

Wiggins, who crashed out on stage seven last year, finished safely with all the race contenders to remain seven seconds behind leader Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, who is not considered a genuine yellow jersey contender.

His main rival, Australia's defending champion Cadel Evans s seventh overall at a further 10 seconds off the pace.

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