Holder Wiggins ruled out of Tour

Defending champion Bradley Wiggins has withdrawn from the Tour de France after a chest infection and a knee injury left him unable to train.

Wiggins had already been told by Team Sky that he would be riding in support of team-mate Chris Froome, but the absence of last year’s yellow jersey winner still represents a huge blow for all concerned.

Wiggins, whose fitness issues saw him withdraw from the Giro d’Italia earlier this month, said: “It’s a huge disappointment not to make the Tour.