British rider Bradley Wiggins abandoned the Tour de France after being involved in a multiple pile-up with 36 kilometres left of Stage 7.

The Team Sky leader, who had very high hopes of a podium finish this year, looked in agony as he held his left arm after the crash, before leaving the race in an ambulance. All the signs pointed to a broken collarbone - if this proves to be the case, Wiggins had no choice but to quit the race.

Team Sky's sports director, Sean Yates, confirmed the abandonment over the radio: "Guys, it's over for Bradley, we think he's got a broken collarbone."

ITV Cycling presenter Chris Boardman tweeted: "Brads [sic] out of the race, 50 left at the front. Gutted."

Team Sky head coach Shane Sutton said that Wiggins' retirement from the 2011 Tour is "a really bitter one to take" (Watch the interview in the player above).

Mark Cavendish, who won Stage 7 with a textbook sprint finish, said he was "gutted" for Wiggins. When the Isle of Man sprinter was told about the abandonment, after crossing the line, he was visibly shocked: "I didn't know. I’m gutted for him, really gutted.

"He’s on the best form of his life. We could have brought home a Tour de France sprint jersey and a yellow jersey. He was really on for GC I tell you.

"People might doubt him but I’ve never seen him on form like this."

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