CAVENDISH BATTLES THROUGH PYRENEES

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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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: PHOTOS

Stage nine

Stage eight

Stage seven

Stage six

Stage five

Stage four

Stage three

Stage two

Stage one

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: BLOGS

Life at the Tour part three

Life at the Tour part two

Life at the Tour part one

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: GUIDE

Tour de France 2008 homepage>>

News and features>>

All the riders (start list, list of abandons)>>

Day by day summary>>

Route & stages>>

Teams and riders>>

About the Tour>>

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