YORK, England (AP) β Tour de France riders have set off on the second stage over nine rolling hills, with Germany’s Marcel Kittel in the yellow jersey and sprint rival Mark Cavendish out of the race after a crash a day earlier.
Massive crowds lined the route for the start of Sunday’s 201-kilometer ride from York to Sheffield.
Cavendish’s crash disappointed many British fans who have turned out on English roads for the first three stages of this year’s Tour.
The British sprint star emerged from the Omega Pharma Quick Step team bus wearing a sling, telling reporters that it was “impossible” that he continue amid pain from a separated right shoulder sustained in the crash in Saturday’s final sprint.
The race enters France on Tuesday, and finishes July 27 in Paris.
