Mark Cavendish was 'almost nailed on' to win a stage – Tributes flood in after 'gutting' Tour de France crash

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) was «almost nailed on» to win a stage on his swansong appearance at the Tour de France, says Adam Blythe, before a crash derailed his hopes of claiming the outright record for stage victories. Cavendish fell victim to a concertina effect in the peloton with 61km remaining on Stage 8 as he hit the tarmac, with it soon evident that his race was over as medical staff helped him into an ambulance. Ad His exit was made extra painful given what happened 24 hours earlier, when a mechanical likely denied him a record 35th win at the Tour.

Tour de FrancePedersen wins Stage 8 as Van Aert denied, Cavendish crashes out5 HOURS AGO Tributes quickly began tumbling in for the 38-year-old, who is set to retire at the end of the season, as Blythe saluted his friend and former team-mate on The Breakaway. «I'm just gutted, really gutted for him,» said Blythe. He continued: «He's a bugger to be with, I'll tell you that for free! He's absolutely brilliant and he's one of the few people in the world that can take that much responsibility and deliver – and keep on delivering.

It's really difficult for Mark, he'll be absolutely gutted. »He had his clear shot yesterday and missed out because of mechanicals. But for me, the way he was going, it was almost nailed on that he was going to win.

I think he knew that and I think that will hurt him more. «For Mark to come off on a stupid crash, he'll be torn up about it for sure. It's just so sad.