Cavendish gives up on green jersey

The 24-year-old was incensed by a decision to wipe all the points he earned on the 14th stage after Tour organisers judged he had driven Thor Hushovd, his rival for the sprinter's crown, too close to barriers and the Norwegian made a complaint.

Asked if he thought the penalty was harsh, Cavendish told Eurosport: "Obviously it is, everybody says that. That's how it is now. I hope Thor can sleep at night. But what can you do about it? If it means that much to him, then so be it."

Cavendish now finds himself a near-unassailable 18 points behind the Norwegian as the riders head into the Alps.

"Thor either thinks so highly of himself that he thinks I was looking out for him or he thinks so highly of my team that the only way he can beat us is to complain like that."

Cavendish had described the stage to Besancon, in which he finished 13th, as "maybe the worst day I've experienced on the bike" with his mood hardly helped by the Tour organisers' sanction.

Despite that the Manxman is keen to bounce back and add to his eight career Tour stage wins on the final day in Paris.

"I said I wanted to get to Paris and that is still the plan," said Cavendish who would claim a record nine stage wins for a British rider should he win in the French capital.

"Obviously the green jersey is out the window, but now I just want to win on the Champs Elysees."