Andy Schleck did not take the start in stage 4 of the Tour de France due to the consequences of his crash in the final 25km of stage 3. His right knee is severely swollen with blood. The collateral ligaments are damaged and there is a lesion in the meniscus.

“This is a huge blow for me," Schleck saus. "I went on the rollers as soon as we arrived in Le Touquet, to get the muscles and tendons warmed up, but the pain is too much. I believed until that moment that I would start. I think I ignored the pain somehow, hiding it in the back of my head.”

Schleck will travel to Basel for further examination and possibly surgery.

“Andy will undergo an MRI-scan of the knee and we will subsequently decide if an operation is necessary, " team doctor Andreas Gösele said. "He’s clearly in a lot of pain and starting would be a very bad idea. We tried all treatments that we have at our disposition in competition, but the injury is too severe to have him racing.”

“I’m hugely disappointed," Schleck added. "I was so happy to be here, racing with Fränk in the Tour again. I was so happy be part of the race and be good and competitive. I’m sad to let the team down, to let Frank down. I was ready to help him defend his GC ambitions. I felt I was progressing, everything was coming back.”