It was a mechanical problem rather than a lack of attention which caused Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) to be unceremoniously dropped on Friday’s stage at the Tour de France.

Once the Omega Pharma-Quick Step led attack had broken the peloton into two in the crosswinds, the Argos-Shimano team was unable to bridge the gap and thus the German sprinter was robbed of the chance to take his fourth stage win at this year’s race.

"When the move came from Omega Pharma-Quick Step, I was in the back of the bunch because of a problem with my chain,” Kittel explained. “It was a pity because today was a chance again for us. We almost came back to the first group at one point, but we didn't make it. At that point we knew it would be difficult to come back and so it was. I thank my team mates for the support. We will get another opportunity sometime later."

Sports Director Christian Guiberteau also gave his account of the events of the day. "The start of the day was good, there was breakaway and there was control over the bunch. There was not more wind than yesterday [Thursday] but it became hectic, very hectic. Marcel just came back of a mechanical problem and was in the back of the bunch when it happened. Omega Pharma-Quick Step started the move and we tried to respond for Kittel with Timmer, Geschke, Frohlinger, Dumoulin in the second group while De Kort, Veelers and Degenkolb were in the first group. The second group came really close, but just didn't make it. Subsequently the flat of Valverde did not make it easier because the GC teams in the first group put the hammer down. In the final, we still had the card of Degenkolb to play. But then Saxobank-Tinkoff made a good move and surprised John. They accelerated very fast in half a minute and then it was too late, we tried to chase with Veelers but did not make it back. A great day for the cycling fan, but not for us."