Brit Dan McLay abandons the 2017 Tour de France on stage 17

Dan McLay (Fortuneo-Oscaro) finally succumbed to the Tour de France after suffering with illness for the past couple of days, quitting the race on stage 17 to Serre Chevalier.

McLay wasn't the only sprinter to withdraw from the race on stage 17, as Marcel Kittel withdrew after crashing 20km in.

McLay has only completed one Tour de France which was last year where he placed 170th. The Brit was on course to complete his second ever Grand Tour but after becoming ill he found it increasingly harder to finish inside the time cut.

Quoted as being "knackered" earlier in the week, the New Zealand born sprinter had gone toe to toe with the likes of Marcel Kittel on the flat stages, who prior to his abandon had dominated the sprints with five stage victories.

Recording four top-10s in this year's Tour including a fifth placed finish, McLay showed promise that he could make an account for himself in the sprints.

The 25-year-old took a podium finish in the Tour last year and three other top-10s, so he'll no doubt fee disappointed to withdraw without matching that result.

McLay was riding in last position, the lanterne rouge, before abandoning, with that dubious honour now passing to fellow Briton Luke Rowe (Team Sky).