Andy Schleck has abandoned the 2014 Tour de France, suffering with injuries sustained as a result of a crash during stage three to London on Monday.
Schleck's Trek Factory Racing team announced via Twitter that the Luxembourg rider had withdrawn from the race, and would not start stage four in France:
"We are sad to announce that Andy Schleck cannot take the start in @letour today. The ligaments and meniscus in the right knee are too severely damaged from his crash in yesterday's final. He will travel to Basel now for examination and a possible operation."
Schleck appeared to have been caught in a collision with a spectator standing in the road taking a photo of the race.
Schleck lost one minute and 19 seconds on stage winner Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) at the end of stage two to Sheffield, and ended the follow day's stage in 56th place at 2'24" after losing further time due to the crash.
His brother Frank is faring better, in 44th place and 1'21" behind Nibali.
The performance of both Schleck brothers is a far cry from 2011, when Andy and Frank placed second and third overall respectively behind winner Cadel Evans. Andy was awarded the 2010 Tour win after Alberto Contador was stripped of the result after testing positive for clenbuterol during the race.
Andy Schleck's departure is the third withdrawal from the race after Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida).
Andy and Frank Schleck selected for Tour de France
-
CSC team-mate reveals Schleck brothers' feud with Carlos Sastre at 2008 Tour de FranceKurt-Asle Arvesen reveals the internal feud inside CSC at the 2008 Tour as they claimed the yellow jersey
By Jonny Long •
-
‘The crashes are pretty indiscriminate’: Richie Porte avoids losses after hitting his head in crash at Tour de France
Richie Porte was able to remain calm under pressure and avoided losses after hitting his head in a fall at the Tour de France.
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Richie Porte faces fightback at Tour de France 2019 following ‘annoying’ start
Trek-Segafredo finished in 18th at 1-18 down on stage two winners Jumbo-Visma
By Richard Windsor •
-
Richie Porte: ‘Winning the Tour de France is not the only reason Trek signed me’
Richie Porte is aiming to take the focus away from the Tour de France in the 2019 season with his new Trek-Segafredo team.
By Alex Ballinger •
-
‘It was the most emotional victory of my career’: John Degenkolb reflects on Tour de France Roubaix stage win
John Degenkolb said his Roubaix stage win at the Tour de France was “was the most emotional victory of his career.”
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Alberto Contador uncertain about Tour de France return in 2018
Two-time winner of the Tour de France Alberto Contador has suffered through the 2017 edition with a stage win his best hope of success in the final week
By Gregor Brown •
-
Andy Schleck: Geraint Thomas is the only guy who could beat Chris Froome at this Tour
2010 Tour de France winner Andy Schleck gives his view on who will win the 2017 edition of the race
By Gregor Brown •
-
Trek-Segafredo 'not wasting time' discussing André Cardoso's positive drugs test
Trek-Segafredo have their eyes set firmly on the start of the Tour de France on Saturday, rather than discussing André Cardoso's positive test for EPO.
By Henry Robertshaw •
