A RECKLESS cycling fan ruined British hopes of a home win on stage one of the Tour de France when he knocked sprinter Mark Cavendish off his bike on the climb of Farthing Common between Ashford and Canterbury.

The 22-year-old T-Mobile rider was expected to challenge in the bunch sprint, but with 12 miles to go he was knocked to the ground as the peloton began the final climb of the day.

A furious Cavendish needed to change bikes and was left stranded when his team mates failed to help him regain the bunch.

He said: "All through the stage the spectators had been great. There had been only a few dangerous moments and this was one of them.

"There was a guy standing a little way out beyond the others in the road. I hit him and the next thing I knew I was on the floor."

His chase was further hindered when a race official warned him against riding in the slipstream of his team car and he rode the last few miles to Canterbury in tears.

The stage winner, Robbie McEwen of Australia, had also crashed, but with five team-mates helping him return to the bunch he pulled off a breathtaking sprint finish to beat the Norwegian Thor Hushovd and Belgium’s Tom Boonen to the line.

Did you see the incident at Farthing Common? If so email messengersport@thekmgroup.co.uk or call the sports department on 01634 227829.