Team Sky have decided to pull out of the Tour of Spain as a mark of respect for their masseur, Txema Gonzalez, who died in a Seville hospital five days after being taken ill with a bacterial infection.
It has been a particularly difficult week for the team as rider Juan Antonio Flecha pulled out of Friday's seventh stage of the race with a fever and upset stomach while Ben Swift and John Lee Augustyn withdrew from the race on Monday after complaining of feeling ill.
"We've considered all the elements very carefully and this is the only decision we could take," said team chief Dave Brailsford. "It's the right one, to show respect to Txema and to look after our team.
"We discussed it with Txema's family and they fully support our decision. They've asked us to the funeral next week and we will of course be there to support them and to pay our respects.
"Others - staff and riders - have been ill during this Tour and Juan Antonio Flecha pulled out on Friday. The medical conditions are different but we need to take care of our team. Txema will be remembered as a warm-hearted colleague who was a joy to work with."