Mark Cavendish could be out of Tour de France after he dislocates shoulder in crash 200m from the finish line that he admits was his fault

Nightmare start: Cavendish looks in distress as he is tended to after the crash

Is this the end? Cavendish later admitted that the collision was his fault after he tried to find a gap

Bad luck: Things don't look good for Cavendish after the crash

Agony: Cavendish is attended to by medical staff after falling 350 metres from the finish line in Harrogate

Killer blow: Cavendish's Tour de France could be over

Big bang: Cavendish was already holding his collar and shoulder immediately after the crash

Here we go: Cavendish's bike starts to move from beneath him after the collision 350 metres from the finish line

Ouch!: Cavendish goes down head first as the first stage had a hectic finish

Grounded: Cavendish rolls off his bike and looks hurt as other riders try to avoid him

Disheartened: Cavendish eventually made it over the line but was holding his midriff and looked in pain

Happier times: Cavendish at the start line with Kate Middleton

'I'm gutted about the crash today,' Cavendish said. 'It was my fault. I'll personally apologise to Simon Gerrans as soon as I get the chance. In reality, I tried to find a gap that wasn't really there.

'I wanted to win today, I felt really strong and was in a great position to contest the sprint thanks to the unbelievable efforts of my team. Sorry to all the fans that came out to support - it was truly incredible.'

After Cavendish tumbled to the tarmac, Marcel Kittel raced away to win the opening stage of the Tour for a second year running.

Cavendish, who had been bidding for his 26th Tour de France stage win, had ridden gingerly back to the team bus holding his side before being taken away in an ambulance with his wife Peta Todd and two-year-old daughter Delilah following in a team car.

For Cavendish, it was sad repeat of last year's opening stage - when Kittel beat a depleted field after Cavendish and others had been caught in a crash on the run into Bastia.

Crossing the finish line: But Cavendish wouldn't have wanted it to end this way

Curse of Cameron: The Prime Minister reacts to Cavendish's fall in Harrogate

Flashpoint: Cavendish and Simon Gerrans come together as they sprint for the finish line

Down...and out? Cavendish shows all the signs of a man whose Tour de France dream could be over

Ceremony: The Duchess of Cambridge cuts the ribbon before the start of the 190.5km first stage

William and Kate meet fans ahead of Tour de France Grand Depart

So it begins: The race leaves the start for stage one of the 2014 Tour de France from Leeds to Harrogate

Sprint star: Britain's Mark Cavendish is pictured before the ceremony signature prior to the start

Lining the streets: Fans gather at the start of stage one for Le Grand Depart of the 2014 Le Tour de France

And they're off! The pack of riders in action during the 1st stage of the 101st edition of the Tour de France

Good turn out: Thousands of cycling fans gather near the Stage 1 finish line in Yorkshire

'He was very impatient,' he said. 'He wanted to win. He has already done this sprint 100 times in his head before.

'It's his home tour. He was very focused. Maybe too much. He was so sure to win that he probably made a mistake.

'Gerrans came next to him, slowed down, he wanted to get out, and (Mark) pushed him with his shoulder. Gerrans pushed back and, boom, they crashed.'

A victory for Cavendish would have completed a dream day for British cycling fans, with Yorkshire laying on one of the more spectacular Grand Departs of recent years.

More than a million fans had turned out to line the route of the 190.5km stage, which began with a long preamble from Leeds to Harewood House before continuing through the Yorkshire Dales and over the Buttertubs climb into Harrogate.

'It's an unfortunate way to end what could've been a dream scenario,' said Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford - Cavendish's former boss.

'He's a great champion. He's done an awful lot for his country and we shouldn't forget that.'

Wallies: A pair of Bradley Wiggans' fans reference the cyclists absence from the Sky team

On yer bikes! The race leaves the start for stage one of the 2014 Tour de France from Leeds to Harrogate

Nice day for it! Spectators and residents line the streets waiting for the race to go by

Rolling out: Riders in the 101st Tour de France cross the start line in front of thousands of spectators in Leeds on the 118-mile first stage to Harrogate

Greetings: Mark Cavendish (second left) shakes hands with Germany's Andre Greipel (right) ahead of the start as Alberto Contador of Spain (left) and Chris Froome of Britain (second right) look on

Head-to-head: Mark Cavendish talks to Chris Froome ahead of the departure from Leeds

Here they come: Cavendish and Froome lead the Grand Depart along the Headway in Leeds at the ceremonial start of the Tour de France

Pace setter: Spain's Alberto Contador gestures when he rides in the pack during the ceremonial procession

Packed: Fans braved the rain on the streets of Leeds to get prime positions to watch the start of the race