Briton Mark Cavendish had a rough ride to Hautacam on Monday, finishing last on the stage after an early crash left him with an injured right elbow.
?He?s all right.? team manager Rolf Aldag told Cycling Weekly after the stage. ?He's very tired after a hard day but he got through. He made it to the finish about seven minutes before the time cut, which was close, but all right in the end.?
Cavendish crashed early on in the stage just as Milram and Garmin were winding up a pursuit of an early move.
?It couldn?t have happened at a worse time.? Aldag said. ?He had to chase like hell to get back on and used up a lot of energy. Then he was dropped again, got back on and finally he and [injured team-mate Bernhard] Eisel rode up the last climb together behind the grupetto.?
?Part of the problem was he didn?t know any of the climbs, so it made him harder for him to chase. But he?s got through. The rest day will be really welcome for him, I think.?
Aldag said no decision has yet been made over how much more of the Tour Cavendish will do. The Manxman has repeatedly said he wants to go all the way to Paris.
?We don?t have a deadline. If it?s crazy for him to continue, he won?t go on, of course. We?ll just have to see how it goes.?
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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: STAGE REPORTS
Stage 10: Evans takes yellow jersey by one second
Stage nine: Ricco wins in the Pyrenees
Stage eight: Cavendish wins again in Toulouse
Stage seven: Sanchez takes action-packed stage
Stage six: Ricco storms to win
Stage five: Cavendish takes first Tour win
Stage four: Schumacher wins TT and takes race lead
Stage three: Dumoulin wins stage from break
Stage two: Hushovd wins chaotic sprint
Stage one: Valverde wins
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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: NEWS
Cavendish talks about his second stage win [stage eight]
Beltran heads home but doubts remain about other Tour riders
David Millar: the dope controls are working
Manuel Neltran tests positive for EPO at the Tour
Comment: How the Tour rediscovered its spirit
Doping back in Tour de France headlines
Millar: close but no cigar in Super-Besse [stage six]
Super-Besse shows form of main contenders [stage six]
Millar to go for yellow [stage six]
Team Columbia's reaction to Cavendish's win [stage five]
Cavendish talks about his Tour stage win
Tour comment: Why Evans should be happy [stage four]
Millar: Still aiming for Tour yellow jersey [stage 4]
Who is Romain Feillu?
Cavendish disappointed with stage two result
Millar too close to Tour yellow jersey
Stage 2 preview: A sprint finish for Cavendish?
Millar happy after gains precious seconds in Plumelec
Valverde delighted with opening Tour stage win
Comment: Is Valverde's win a good thing for the Tour?
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