Romain Bardet, who crashed in the second stage of the Volta a Catalunya, did not start the fifth stage.

"Since my crash, I have felt severe pain in the butt that makes it hard for me to pedal. Yesterday I survived but I am not able to express myself at my usual level. I'm going to rest, go to further examinations and prepare the rest of the season," he said.

Bardet will next ride Brabantse Pijl(April 15), Fleche Wallonne (April 22) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (April 26).