British champion Peter Kennaugh has abandoned the Tour de France on Monday's 16th stage to deprive Team Sky leader Chris Froome a key lieutenant.
Kennaugh, who was part of the team which supported Froome to the 2013 title, had been suffering with illness, his agent said.
The 26-year-old from the Isle of Man was 146th at the start of the 201-kilometres route from Bourg de Peage to Gap, almost two and a half hours behind Froome.
Kennaugh, who won London 2012 Olympic gold in the team pursuit on the track, successfully retained his British title on June 28 in Lincoln.
Source: PA-WIRE
