Tour de France spectator throws urine at Cavendish

After British cyclist Mark Cavendish collided into Dutchman Tom Veelers during the tenth stage of the Tour de France, sending him crashing into the ground, Cavendish was cleared by the race organizers of all blame for the accident.

Cavendish called Veelers to apologize anyway. But Veelers said the literally phoned-in apology wasn't enough, and rejected it.

Apparently, some of the fans along the course during Wednesday's eleventh stage agreed.

A spectator tossed liquid out of a bottle at Cavendish, who thought it was water until he realized from the taste it was urine.

The 28-year-old said he was "saddened" by the incident, but otherwise refused to discuss it.

“Probably some spectators were not very pleased with what happened yesterday and they yelled to him and then one other idiot threw urine at him,” Cavendish's Omega Pharma team manager Patrick Lefevere said.

“I regret this. I always felt that cycling fans were gentlemen, enthusiastic people,” Lefevere added. “Mark is sad, he's not upset.”

Lefevere suggested the two competitors might meet before Thursday's stage and shake hands.

Cavendish is third in the points classification, given for high finishes and sprints, just past the halfway point of the 21-stage race.

Briton Chris Froome has worn the yellow jersey for overall leader since the eighth stage.