Greig Leach

It is my custom to not paint crashes from any bike race, nor the consequences on the riders on the race. Today, I made an exception. While I had my doubts that Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan) would be able to get his 35th all time Tour stage win, I didn't want this to be the reason. After coming so very, very close yesterday in Bordeaux, he got tangled up in a crash with about 60 kilometers left in today's stage. It was obvious to me as soon as I saw him reach to the front of his right shoulder I knew his Tour was over. Cav has claimed this was his final Tour appearance. While he change his mind? As he got into the ambulance to head to hospital, the camera got a very lost stared seemingly not seeing what lay in his future. He then did give us all a wry smile before the door slid shut. A sad day for the Tour, Astana, Cav, racers, and all of us cycling fans.