Wiggins pulls out of Paris-Nice

PARIS // The British cyclist Bradley Wiggins has pulled out of the Paris-Nice race after learning of the death of his wife's grandmother. Wiggins did not start in Wednesday's fourth stage, a 173.5-kilometre (108-mile) route from Vichy to Saint-Etienne, his Garmin-Slipstream team said on the race's website. Wiggins, a two-time Olympic pursuit champion and time-trial specialist, finished second in Sunday's time-trial opener. But he slipped out of overall contention after losing more than 11 minutes to the race leaders in Tuesday's wet, windy third stage.

Garmin-Slipstream, which is one of only two American-based teams competing in the International Cycling Union's Pro Tour race series this year, lost another rider earlier this week when an illness forced Dan Martin out of the race. Sylvain Chavanel of France won Tuesday's stage to take the overall lead, one minute ahead of pre-race favourite Alberto Contador. The race concludes on Sunday in Nice.

*AP