Taking the pee: Mark Cavendish has urine thrown at him on Tour

 
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Andy Hodgson10 July 2013

Mark Cavendish had urine thrown at him during today’s time trial in the Tour de France, according to one of his team-mates.

The incident came the day after the British national champion was embroiled in controversy when a collision late on in stage 10 to Saint-Malo sent Dutchman Tom Veelers to the floor and ended Cavendish’s hopes of victory.

The Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider was cleared of any blame by race organisers, but many fans condemned the Manxman’s actions on social media.

The reaction escalated this morning when Cavendish tackled the 33-kilometre time trial route from Avranches to Mont-Saint-Michel that was packed with spectators.

His French team-mate Jerome Pineau wrote on Twitter: “Yesterday I was so proud to see the support at the race, but today I am ashamed.

“Ashamed when my friend @MarkCavendish tells me he has been whistled and even sprayed with urine on the course. It’s scandalous.”

Cavendish declined to talk when asked about the incident but another member of the team said with a grin that there had “been a smell” when he returned to their bus.

Cavendish was among the early runners in today’s time trial due to his lowly position in the general classification, and set a time of exactly 42 minutes.

His team-mate Tony Martin, the world time trial champion, had the early lead after completing the course in 36 minutes 29 seconds.

After the clash with Veelers 100 metres from the finishing line, Cavendish reacted angrily to questioning about the incident.

He snatched a tape recorder from one reporter and took it on to the team bus.

Veelers demanded that Cavendish be disqualified, but race organisers said he was more at fault as he was easing off after delivering team-mate Marcel Kittel to the finish.

The verdict came after Cavendish had told reporters: “The road was bearing left.

“I know you’re trying to get all the ‘Mark Cavendish is a really bad sprinter’ stuff again, but with 150 metres to go the road bears left. All I do is follow the road.”

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