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 )

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.

But 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)

“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.

It 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.