Chris Froome crashed out of the Tour de France on Wednesday, leaving Team Sky to turn their focus towards a podium challenge for Richie Porte.
After two flawless Tours de France – wins for Sir Bradley Wiggins in 2012 and Froome a year later – Team Sky’s luck ran out on the roads of northern France.
[ Read more: Two falls in two days too much for Chris Froome at Tour de France ]
Froome crashed twice on Wednesday’s fifth stage from Ypres to Arenberg Porte du Hinaut, exacerbating injuries sustained in a crash on Tuesday’s fourth stage, particularly a wrist problem.
It was reported Froome began the stage with a fractured left wrist and torrential rain coupled with slick roads contributed to his premature withdrawal and return home.
The sad sight of Froome, dominant in winning the 2013 Tour, grimacing by the roadside was reminiscent of Sir Bradley Wiggins’ withdrawal with a broken collarbone in the first week of the 2011 Tour.
Three years ago Team Sky recalibrated to focus on stage wins and achieved their first Tour triumphs through Edvald Boasson Hagen’s double.
Now the general classification remains the goal ahead of Thursday’s 194-kilometre route from Arras to Reims in Champagne country, which is expected to end in a sprint.
Porte, who had been slated to lead Team Sky at May’s Giro d’Italia before withdrawing from contention due to illness, will now lead Team Sky.
Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford told teamsky.com: “This is incredibly sad for Chris and for the team.
“His bravery was incredible but the crashes just took their toll and he had no choice but to abandon.
“It’s not to be for Chris this year but that’s sport and he’ll be back.
“He’ll head home and we’ll make sure he’s looked after on the way back to full fitness.
“One man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity. This is Richie’s opportunity now, he steps up and he has the full support of the team.
“He’s come into form at the right time and given the way he is climbing we’ve got an exciting two and a half weeks ahead of us.”
Despite the atrocious conditions, which made for an epic day’s racing won by Lars Boom (Belkin), Froome was the only withdrawal as the peloton fell to 193 riders.
Just two of those left are Britons - Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) and Simon Yates (Orica-GreenEdge) - after Froome joined Mark Cavendish (shoulder) in exiting the Tour.
Thomas played a key role in supporting Porte, who finished 20th, two minutes 11 seconds behind Boom to move up to eighth overall, 1min 54secs behind Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), who retained the yellow jersey with a third-placed finish.
Froome’s Tour ended not in Paris on July 27, but with a premature departure home battered and bruised following an eventful two days in northern France.
He will now undergo scans to determine the full extent of his injuries and could alter his season’s focus to the Vuelta a Espana, which begins in Jerez on August 23.
“I’m devastated to have to pull out of the race,” Froome told teamsky.com
“It was the right thing to do after crashing again and I knew that I couldn’t carry on.
“I’m going to fly home and over the next few days I’ll go for some more scans on my wrist to find out exactly what injuries I’ve sustained.
“The X-ray (on Tuesday night) didn’t show an obvious fracture and I wanted to race (on Wednesday), but clearly I was in pain and we put heavy strapping on the left wrist from the start.
“It’s too early to say for definite when I’ll be back on the bike, I’m just going to concentrate on getting back to full fitness.”
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