Marcel Kittel is the third high-profile sprinter to leave this year’s Tour de France. (Yoan Valat/EPA)Another big name is out of the Tour de France after Marcel Kittel was forced to abandon the race on Wednesday following a multi-rider pileup that left his shoulder and knee too damaged to continue. The crash occurred early in a demanding Stage 17 that required the riders to cycle 183 kilometers through the Alps from La Mure, France to Serre-Chevalier. The 29-year-old German is the third high-profile sprinter forced out of the Tour de France this year. In that case, Sagan was disqualified after Tour officials deemed he intentionally endangered riders after he appeared to elbow Cavendish into the barriers.

Source: Washington Post July 19, 2017 15:11 UTC