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American Christian Vande Velde has pulled out of the Tour de France after breaking two ribs in Monday's second stage, his Garmin-Transitions team said.
Vande Velde, who finished fifth overall in 2008 and eighth last year, was involved in a massive crash some 30km from the finish line in Monday's 201-km trek from Brussels to Spa.
"Eight riders will take the start tomorrow, with the exception of team leader Christian Vande Velde," Garmin-Transitions said in a statement.
"This season, Christian suffered a broken collarbone at the Giro d'Italia, three broken ribs at the Tour du Suisse, and today, suffered two additional broken ribs and multiple contusions.
"The extent of all of these injuries combined will prevent him from starting Stage Three."
Vande Velde said he was 'indescribably disappointed'.
"No one wants to leave the Tour de France. I worked really hard to get myself ready to be here again and I was just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel," he said.
Other Garmin riders in the team also crashed on Monday. Sprinter Tyler Farrar will start Tuesday's third stage despite breaking his wrist but the effort on some cobbled sectors is likely to prove too much for the American.
Briton David Millar may have a broken rib and New Zealand's Julian Dean suffered a bruised back, but both riders will start in Wanze.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ian Ransom; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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