Cavendish and Martin left playing catch-up
![Netherlands' Dylan Groenewegen celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the eighth stage of the Tour de Francein Amiens, France. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena )](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/webimg/legacy_ash_101151344.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![Netherlands' Dylan Groenewegen celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the eighth stage of the Tour de Francein Amiens, France. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena )](/img/placeholder.png)
While the Dutchman followed up Friday’s success in Chartres with a Bastille Day victory in Amiens on stage eight, Cavendish could enjoy a respite from questions over his form as there was little he could have done differently this time.
The Manxman, looking to turn around a frustrating start to the Tour, was on the wheel of Peter Sagan as the peloton rounded a left-hander on to the finishing straight with 600 metres to go.
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Hide AdBut when Sagan launched – too early as it turned out – there was no response from Cavendish as his equipment let him down.
![Ireland's Daniel Martin, left, crosses the finish line with more than a minute delay on his main opponents after crashing during the eight stage of the Tour de France. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/webimg/legacy_ash_101151345.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Ireland's Daniel Martin, left, crosses the finish line with more than a minute delay on his main opponents after crashing during the eight stage of the Tour de France. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)](/img/placeholder.png)
“What can you do?” he said. “The chain comes off with 250 metres to go. At least it stops me having to think of excuses. I was in the perfect position. I was pretty happy. Coming around that corner with three kilometres to go, we knew it was pretty sketchy. I lost my leadout men but I was all right.”
After catching Sagan, Quick-Step Floors’ Fernando Gaviria and Lotto-Soudal’s Andre Greipel clashed and were both relegated, but though the German reacted angrily on Twitter his punishment was for a seperate incident involving Team Sunweb’s Nikias Arndt.
The decision moved Sagan up to second, with Trek-Segafredo’s John Degenkolb third. Cavendish was elevated to eighth. BMC’s Greg Van Avermaet retained the yellow jersey.
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Hide AdIt was a costly and bruising day for UAE Team Emirates’ Dan Martin, who was caught in a crash with 17km to go.
The Irishman, winner of stage six on the Mur-de-Bretagne, rode home with blood pouring from his elbow and finished 76 seconds down.