Tour de France dream over for Mark Cavendish after he dislocates shoulder yards from finish line in horror crash which hands victory to German rival

Br itish rider Mark Cavendish dislocated his right shoulder after horror crash just 350 metres from finish in Harrogate



The cycling sprinter collided with Australia's Simon Gerrans and was seen clutching his shoulder as he fell to floor

Prime Minister David Cameron could be seen wincing as he watched the drama unfold on opening stage in Yorkshire

Crash meant coveted yellow jersey - presented by Duchess of Cambridge - was given to German rider Marcel Kittel



Thousands of people lined streets of Yorkshire for the Grand Depart and opening stage of Tour de France yesterday



120-mile route took the riders from Leeds through the Yorkshire Dales to the big finish in the spa town of Harrogate

Competitors were waved off by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry at Harewood House yesterday



Duchess of Cambridge looked stunning in green coat as she cut the ribbon to declare the 101st Tour officially open




The Duchess of Cambridge presented the coveted yellow jersey to Germany’s Marcel Kittel after the opening leg of the Tour de France today after Britain’s Mark Cavendish crashed out just moments from the finish line.

The Tour is over for the British rider - who had been hoping to take the leader's yellow jersey in his mother's hometown of Harrogate, North Yorkshire - after he dislocated his right shoulder and suffered ligament damage.



Prime Minister David Cameron, who was watching the opening stage with his son, winced as he watched the cycling champion crash to the ground just 380 yards (350 metres) from the finish.



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The future of the Tour remains in doubt for British rider Mark Cavendish - who had been hoping to take the leader's yellow jersey in his mother's hometown of Harrogate, Yorkshire - after he was left with a dislocated shoulder following a horror crash just yards from the finish line Mark Cavendish received medical treatment at the scene after falling from his bike in a horror crash just yards from the finish line in Harrogate The Duchess of Cambridge handed out the first yellow jersey of the Tour de France to Germany's Marcel Kittel at the finish line of the first stage in Harrogate, Yorkshire



The Duchess of Cambridge presented the coveted yellow jersey to Germany's Marcel Kittel after the opening leg of the Tour de France today after Britain's Mark Cavendish crashed out just moments from the finish line Good luck! Mark Cavendish (pictured on his bike) chats to William, Kate and Harry before the collision. The cyclist will make an announcement about his future in the tour tomorrow morning The Duchess of Cambridge (left) and Prince William and Prince Harry (right) look on in shock as they watch Mark Cavendish crash just 350 metres from the finish line Prince Harry leans right across the barrier, as Kate and William get in the best position possible to watch riders cross the finish line

Prime Minister David Cameron winces as he sees Mark Cavendish crash while watching the race with his son, pictured in the yellow hat

More than one million cycling fans lined the streets of Yorkshire this morning for the historic opening stage, which saw all 198 riders line up in the centre of Leeds for the Grand Depart It meant his rival, Team Giant Shimano's Marcel Kittel, was presented with the leader’s yellow jersey by the Duchess of Cambridge, who officially opened the first leg of this year’s Tour with Prince William and Prince Harry. More than one million cycling fans lined the streets of Yorkshire this morning for the historic opening stage, which saw all 198 riders line up in the centre of Leeds for the Grand Depart. However, while Cavendish contended to cycle home as winner of the first stage – his efforts were thwarted when he collided with Australia’s Simon Gerrans during the hectic finish. RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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Next Play it cool, Trig, play it cool! Hilarious moment Argentina... But the Tour de France is in Yorkshire, Sarko: Ex French... Argentina sweep in to World Cup semi-finals as they break... Share this article Share The British cycling sprinter was bidding for the 26th Tour stage win of his career and a first yellow jersey, but ended up seeing his efforts dashed when he dislocated his right shoulder in the hefty fall. However, not one to stay down, he climbed back on his bike and rolled over the finish line before being taken to Harrogate District Hospital for treatment. While he made the trip to hospital in an ambulance, his wife Peta Todd and two-year-old daughter Delilah followed behind in a team car. Doctors last night confirmed Cavendish separated the acromioclavicular joint between his right shoulder and collarbone when he hit the tarmac.

The 29-year-old had an MRI scan on the injury after the crash and made the decision today that he could not continue the Tour with his Omega Pharma-QuickStep team.

‘I'm gutted about the crash,’ he said yesterday evening. Mark Cavendish collided with Australian rider Simon Gerrans about 350 metres from the finish line in Harrogate While Cavendish contended to cycle home as winner of the first stage - his efforts were thwarted when he collided with Simon Gerrans during the hectic finish The British cycling sprinter was bidding for the 26th Tour stage win of his career and a first yellow jersey, but ended up seeing his efforts dashed when he suffered a dislocated right shoulder and ligament damage in the hefty fall Mark Cavendish looked in obvious pain as he clutched his collar bone and shoulder following the crash on stage one Mark Cavendish's mother, Adele, watches with horror as she witnesses her son crash just yards from the finish on the first stage of the Tour in Harrogate, Yorkshire

The cycling sprinter grimaced in pain as he was helped by a medical team in the aftermath of his fall, which came about 350 metres from the finish Mark Cavendish managed to climb back on his bike and roll over the finish line before being taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries Cavendish looked in pain as he cycled to the finish with his arm resting on his stomach. He was later taken to hospital where doctors said he had a dislocated shoulder Fans desperately tried to take photographs of the British rider who looked glum-faced as he finished the opening stage of this year's Tour Mark Cavendish, who received an MBE in 2011 (left), has a daughter called Delilah Grace with former glamour model Peta Todd, who he married last year (together above)

Cavendish's crash meant German rival Marcel Kitty picked up the leader's yellow jersey on the opening stage. He was congratulated by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry who all clapped as he took to the podium Prime Minister David Cameron was in Harrogate today to watch the opening stage of this year's Tour de France The cyclists earlier left Leeds city centre, where thousands of people had lined the streets to wave off ther riders on the three-week race ‘It was my fault. I'll personally apologise to Simon Gerrans as soon as I get the chance. In reality, I tried to find a gap that wasn't really there.

‘I wanted to win [yesterday], I felt really strong and was in a great position to contest the sprint thanks to the unbelievable efforts of my team. Sorry to all the fans that came out to support - it was truly incredible.’

His lead out man Mark Renshaw added: 'He's not in great shape but in saying that I am sure he will be OK. He's a tough guy.' His team manager Patrick Lefevere could not say last night whether the British rider's Tour was officially over.

'Mark had lived this sprint in his mind at least 100 times before,' he told reporters outside the team bus as media crews swarmed around for news.

'He was so focused, he wanted to win so badly.

'He told me Simon Gerrans slowed down and he really wanted to get out and he pushed and Gerrans pushed back. And that's how he crashed.'



Prince William, Kate and Harry were at the starting line at Harewood House in Leeds to officially start this year's Tour de France

The Duchess of Cambridge was given the honour of cutting the ribbon, which symbolises that the Tour de France is officially underway

Kate looks delighted as she officially declares that the 101st Tour de France is underway as she cuts the ceremonial ribbon, helped by Prince William and Prince Harry

The royals stayed in Harrogate for the end of the first stage when the Duchess of Cambridge presented the stage winner with the yellow jersey

Kate and William shook hands with the lead Tour de France competitors ahead of the race beginning at Harewood House in Leeds

Prince Harry chats to leading British rider Mark Cavendish ahead of the race, which saw him crash out yards from the finish iin Harrogate

The royals, joined by other dignitaries including Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, left, applaud the riders as they set off for the start of the race

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left Harewood House by helicopter shortly after the race began and flew to Harrogate to welcome home the first stage winner

Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate visited West Tanfield after the race began where local people were celebrating the Grand Depart

Kate, wearing a bottle green coat by label Erdem, talked to the members of the public gathered for the race The peloton, including Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish, set off on the 120 mile race which took in the Yorkshire Dales on their way to the spa town of Harrogate

Cycling fans clamber on to the steps of Leeds Town Hall marking the start of the Tour de France, known as the Grand Depart

Fans looked out of windows and from roof tops to watch the cyclists go past the Headrow in Leeds. One man, right, even perched himself on the ledge of a fourth floor balcony to get a better look at the riders

Businesses and homes in town and villages across the route have been decorated for the race, with this pub decked in replica yellow jerseys

Spectators were basked in sunshine in Ilkley on the tour's two day visit to Yorkshire, which will move south to Cambridge on Monday in a stage that will end on The Mall in Central London



Leeds major shopping street, the Headrow, was packed full of spectators for the Grand Depart of the Tour de France

Leeds city centre was packed full of cycling fans ahead of the Grand Depart of the Tour de France which left the city at noon today

The tour publicity caravan made its way through the streets of Leeds, marking the start of the 2014 Tour de France before the Grand Depart

The Grand Depart of the tour has attracted cycling fans both young and old to cheer on the riders

Spectators arrived in Leeds city centre from early this morning to get a good spot to see the historic Grand Depart of the Tour de France in Yorkshire

It is the first time the race has returned to Britain since 2007, and two stages of the tour will be held in Yorkshire



The British contingent among the huge crowds were hoping that Cavendish would be first across the finish line in Harrogate.

His mother lives in the spa town and the British rider was hoping to bag the yellow jersey as the ideal end to the opening stage of the Tour.

However, the 29-year-old's hopes were dashed when he suffered the unexpected fall and fans will now be eagerly awaiting tomorrow's news to see if he is able to compete in the rest of the Tour.

British hopes were also lying with last year's Tour de France champion Chris Froome, who avoided the trouble to place sixth, but will face a sterner test in Sunday's 201km second stage from York to Sheffield.



While he is trying to defend his title, 2012 winner Sir Bradley Wiggins is not competing in this year's Tour.

The royal visitors waited at the finish line in Harrogate to welcome the leaders and the peloton before the Duchess of Cambridge presented the leader's yellow jersey on the podium.

Residents in villages along the route hung bunting in the race's signature canary yellow in their towns and villages, and painted phone boxes to match, ahead of today's opening stage.

The spa town of Harrogate was full of spectators ahead of the grand finish earlier today

The usually quiet North Yorkshire dales filled up with spectators for the Tour de France. Fans gathered in Buttertubs, pictured, which marked the steepest and most dangerous section of today's race

Residents in the town of Skipton decorated their house in anticipation of welcoming the opening stage of the Tour de France

Some spectators arrived in the village of Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales where the peloton passed through on their way to Harrogate today

Many of the small towns and villages along the opening stage have been getting in the French spirit ahead of the tour

Spectators in Ilkley turn out for what is being billed as 'the world's greatest cycle race'

A large banner in the shape of the yellow jersey could be seen draped over the roof of the historic York Minster cathedral, and the famous race leader's jersey also adorned the statue of the Black Prince in Leeds.

Even animals were not immune from cycling fever. Farmers spray-painted their sheep and alpacas in yellow, green and red polka dots to match the various winners' jerseys.

Enthusiastic fans sporting black and white striped tops, berets, strings of garlic around their necks and bushy moustaches took to their bikes in homage to the French - who invented the race 101 years ago.

The red, white and blue flags of France and Great Britain could be seen draped across the front of shops and pubs as businesses raced to embrace the visitors travelling from across the Channel for the start of the Tour.

Up to three million people are expected to watch the Tour's two-day visit to Yorkshire.

Today, the riders arrive in York for a stage taking in some of the most challenging climbs in Britain, ending in Sheffield.

And, tomorrow, the Tour moves south to Cambridge and a stage ending on The Mall, in central London.

The Tour de France is now in its 101st first year and the 2,277-mile, 21-stage race ends in Paris on July 27.

These cycling fans, wore 'Where's Wiggo?' T-shirts after it was announced the first British winner of the Tour in 2012 Bradley Wiggins, would not be taking part in this year's race

Enthusiastic fans were eager to cheer on British riders Mark Cavendish and Chris Froome, with this man decked out in a suit of the Union flag

British hopes lie with last year's overall champion, Chris Froome, with his fans arriving in Leeds for the Grand Depart

At the finishing line in Harrogate, Arthen (left) and Lilwen Banning showed their support with chalk for British rider Mark Cavendish, who crashed out yards from the finish Up to three million people are expected to watch the Tour's two-day visit to Yorkshire, with the riders passing through Yorkshire again tomorrow on their way from York to Sheffield. Leeds enjoyed a does of yellow fever, even dressing the city centre's art deco nymph statue in a jersey (right)

