Cavendish may leave the Tour

Team Columbia's sprinting sensation Mark Cavendish is unlikely to start stage 15 of the Tour de France on Sunday, according to his manager Bob Stapleton. The British rider, who has won four stages already, struggled home on the 14th stage to Dignes-les-Bains and has only one realistic chance of adding to his tally - the final stage to Paris next Sunday.

Stapleton indicated that he would talk with Cavendish on Saturday evening about the prospect of pulling out, in order to preserve the 23 year-old's chances for the Olympic Madison race in Beijing.

"He is clearly very tired," Stapleton told Eurosport. "I think we have to seriously consider him stepping out. That's something we need to give full consideration to. It's important for us that he is part of that decision so we'll talk with him when he feels better."