15 July 2023 , 12:02
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The Tour de France has been halted after a major crash at the back of the peloton, with several cyclists forced to withdraw.
The incident unseated a number of riders and ambulances were quickly called to the scene. Antonio Pedrero and Louis Meintjes have both been forced to pull out as a result of the crash.
Pedrero's Movistar team announced his withdrawal on social media, stating: "Unfortunately, the 14th stage of @letour_es | #TDF2023 begins with the second retirement for the Movistar Team: @pedrero_antonio. The Catalan, one of the most affected in a pileup, will not be able to reach Paris in his first 'Grande Boucle'. We will keep you informed."
Meintjes' Intermarche-Circus-Wanty team also confirmed he had been forced to pull out, stating: "We are absolutely devastated to report that Louis Meintjes fractured his collarbone following a crash early in stage 14 and leaves the Tour de France."
The race did ultimately resume with a neutralised start for 2 kilometres. Earlier on in the tour, Britain's Mark Cavendish suffered a broken collarbone in what will be his final Tour de France.
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The 38-year-old will retire at the end of the season and entered this year's Tour de France hoping to go past Eddy Merckx and break the record for the most stage wins. However, he will remain tied with Merckx on 34 wins having suffered a horror crash in Harrogate.
Cavendish has since undergone surgery on his collarbone and said he should be fully recovered in a "number of weeks". In a post on social media, he said: "Yep, fractured right clavicle. Just out of surgery to plate it up. It'll take a bit longer than the standard couple of weeks for a collarbone, just due to the screws that were in there from a previous injury.
"But we're still only looking at a number of weeks, so happy days! I've been absolutely bowled over by the love and support of everyone. Fans, colleagues, family friends. Thank you all so, so, so much. It obviously hasn't been the ideal way to finish the Tour, but that's part of the beauty and brutality of cycling!
"But I've felt incredibly lifted thanks to all you beautiful souls living my journey with me. Missing my Astana-Qazaqstan family, but been cheering them on every day, and will do so all the way into Paris. Thank you to Professor Funk. I know my shoulder is always in the best hands with you. Right then, time for rehab! Let's get on with it!"