FOUGÈRES, France — André Greipel and Mark Cavendish, two of the leading sprinters at the Tour de France, began Friday’s stage with the same problem. The crashes that have marred the opening week of the race had depleted the number of their teammates, whom they rely upon to wind up the pace before their final sprints.
“It doesn’t make you stronger when the last man in front of you is injured and cannot start the day,” Greipel, wearing the green jersey of the leading sprinter, said before the start in the village of Livarot.