The first big mountain stage of the 2016 Tour de France was a far cry from the first week success that Mark Cavendish enjoyed as the 'manx missile' spent the majority of the 184km stage from Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon out the back with Dimension Data teammate Bernie Eisel.
Cavendish and Eisel were the last two riders to finish in the 55-rider grupetto, 39:24 minutes down on stage winner Chris Froome.
"It was hot, I hate it in the Pyrenees," said Cavendish after collecting the green points jersey for another day.
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"It's just too hot for me, I'm from the Isle of Man. I have white skin and that, I can't deal with this heat.
"Especially this year as I haven't really been training in Italy, I've been training on the track so I haven't seen the sun. I just want to go and sit down.."
The fast start in which the peloton covered 51km in the first hour meant the majority of riders were already on the limit before they reached the Hors catégorie Col du Tourmalet climb. Cavendish is battling world champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) for the green jersey, and with the day's intermediate sprint placed at the base of the climbs, he explained the frantic start to the stage.
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