Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) has abandoned the Abu Dhabi Tour after crashing in the neutralised zone of Stage 1 today.
The 32-year old fell before the race officially began, appearing to land heavily on his shoulder. He was able to remount and take the official start yet withdrew from the race after five kilometres.
Team Dimension Data have since confirmed that Cavendish sustained concussion and whiplash and was withdrawn as a safety protocol.
The crash occurred after the commissaire's car seemed to slow down, causing the riders directly behind to suddenly apply the brakes, bringing Cavendish and a few others down. Race footage showed Cavendish also pointing towards his neck, indicating that it also took a hit in the slow speed crash.
Cavendish will be hoping the crash will have caused only temporary damage after a 2017 season blighted by illness and injury.
He managed only one race victory last year, at the Abu Dhabi Tour, with his early season heavily derailed after he picked up the Epstein-Barr virus, before his crash at the Tour.