Roberto Ferrari refused to accept the blame for his role in the crash which caused a mass pile-up and brought down world champion Mark Cavendish and race leader Taylor Phinney on stage three of the Giro d’Italia.

Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela rider Ferrari swung across the road as the bunch sprint ramped up to full speed, taking out Cavendish’s front wheel resulting in a pile-up which left bodies and bikes scattered across the road.

But, despite being relegated from 10th to 192nd on the stage by the race jury for irregular sprinting, the 29-year-old insists he was not in the wrong.

“I don’t know who was behind me,” he said. “I know that when Farrar went I threw myself right and somebody hooked me back. There was space to pass, I don’t know who was on the wheel or what happened.

“I made my sprint. I was on my course. I was in front of him [Cavendish], I don’t care what happens behind me.”

However, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela manager Gianni Savio took a more diplomatic approach and apologised on behalf of his rider.

“We very much regret what happened and apologise to Mark Cavendish on behalf of Roberto Ferrari and the whole team,” said Savio. It was absolutely not a deliberate move. Roberto saw the wheel of [Tyler] Farrar and tried to follow him, not realising that Mark Cavendish was right behind him.”

A battered and bruised Cavendish soon got back to his feet and finished the stage while Phinney was relegated to last place on the day, but with the same time as the lead group, for crossing the finish line in an ambulance. The 21-year-old recovered sufficiently to be attend the podium presentation and is expected to start Wednesday’s team time trial in Verona.

Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman said: “Mark’s had a bad crash and is very uncomfortable but we’re taking care of him. We’re travelling as a team to Verona.”

Ferrari’s comments are unlikely to win him many friends in the peloton, with many riders, including Cavendish, using Twitter to call for the Italian to be thrown off the race.

“Is the team of Roberto Ferrari or the UCI going to do the right thing?,” tweeted Cavendish. “Other riders, including myself, have been sent home for much less.”