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Skil-Shimano admits Rooijakkers hit out at Cavendish

By Richard Tyler

published 6 July 2009

Cavendish wins regardless

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Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory in the Tour's first road stage.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Piet Rooijakkers (right) came into contact with Cavendish with 2km to go in stage 2 of the Tour de France(Image credit: Junko & Miwako Sasaki)

Skil-Shimano has confirmed that, Piet Rooijakkers, was the rider involved in an altercation with Mark Cavendish in the run in towards Brignoles for the finish of stage 2 at the Tour de France.

Cavendish wins sprint in Brignoles

Cavendish dreams of winning in green on the Champs Elysees

The exchange occurred with two kilometres remaining in the stage. Cavendish could be seen grabbing Rooijakkers jersey before the Dutchman removed his right hand and swung twice at the Columbia-HTC rider. Responding to the incident Cavendish had initially confused the Rooijakkers with his Skil-Shimano teammate, Kenny Van Hummel.

"Van Hummel has absolutely no respect for its colleagues," said Cavendish after the stage, reported Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

A spokesperson for Skil-Shimano confirmed that Rooijakkers had been the rider to strike out at Cavendish, after being pushed into the line of the Columbia-HTC train by Frenchman Lloyd Mondory (AG2R La Mondiale).

Regardless of the incident Cavendish was able to avoid a crash inside the final kilometre to claim his fifth Tour de France stage win. Cavendish's win also moved him into the lead of the green jersey classification.

Rooijakkers finished the stage 2 in 61st place.