Mark Cavendish has been ruled out of the Tour de France following the crash he suffered in yesterday's first stage.

The Ongar cyclist boarded the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team bus for the start of stage two in York this morning and confirmation came soon after that he would miss the rest of the race.

The 29-year-old sustained a separated shoulder following a crash during the closing stages of  the first stage from Leeds to Harrogate after colliding with Simon Gerrans, an accident the ‘Manx Missile’ later accepted responsibility for.

Cavendish was chasing a 26th stage victory in the world’s biggest cycling race and the leader’s yellow jersey for the first time in his career.

Today’s stage from York to Sheffield includes nine categorised climbs before the field heads south tomorrow for the third stage from Cambridge to the finish on The Mall after the riders have ridden through west Essex and East London.