Cavendish pulls out of Tour!

Mark Cavendish's sensational Tour de France is over after the Team Columbia rider "stepped off" before Sunday's 15th stage in the Alps.

The 23-year-old, who became the first British rider to win four stages in a single Tour, will now return home to begin his preparations for the Olympic where he will compete in the Madison event alongside Bradley Wiggins.

The Isle of Man rider has proved to be the find of this year's race after sprtinting to victory on stages five, eight, 12 and 13, but he struggled with the stages in the Pyrenees and pulled out before Sunday's stage from Embrun to Prato Nevoso.

He was also in contention for the sprinter's green jersey but was unable to unseat Spain's Oscar Freire who tightened his grip on the competition by winning Saturday's stage.

Stage 21/21

Final overall standings 2008

1. SASTRE 87h 52' 52

2. EVANS + 00' 58

3. KOHL + 01' 13

4. MENCHOV + 02' 10

5. V’DEVELDE + 03' 05

6. SCHLECK + 04' 28

7. SANCHEZ + 06' 25

8. KIRCHEN + 06' 55

9. VALVERDE + 07' 12

10. VALJAVEC + 09' 05

It was Carlos Sastre who went on to win the 95th Tour de France with Evans finishing runners up for the second year running!

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