Cavendish out of Tour of Britain after crash

LONDON (AP) British sprint specialist Mark Cavendish has been forced out of the Tour of Britain after being hospitalized with a shoulder injury following a crash in Friday's sixth stage.

His Etixx Quick-Step team announced the withdrawal, adding later that he had been taken to hospital in Stockport, northwest England.

''The X-rays underlined no fracture or ... dislocation of his shoulder, but a contusion was diagnosed,'' the team said in a statement. ''Cavendish will have to respect some days of rest before resuming training.''

Friday's stage was a tough 192.7-kilometer (119.8-mile) ride through the Peak District National Park from Stoke-on-Trent to Nottingham.

It was won by Cavendish's teammate, Matteo Trentin.