Cavendish quits Tour de France

2008-07-20 14:24

Embrun - British sprinter Mark Cavendish pulled out of the Tour de France ahead of Sunday's 15th stage which took riders into major climbs in the Alps.

Cavendish won four stages at this year's race with sprint finishes. His Team Columbia manager said he and Cavendish had reached a mutual decision after the 23-year-old cyclist complained of tiredness in recent days.

"We spoke to him last night to see how he felt," Bob Stapleton said. "Even halfway during that he was very fatigued. It was very difficult for him to get over the Alps. Why take any physical risks and put a workload on his body?"

Cavendish will now focus on the Olympic Games next month in Beijing, China.

- AP