Edvald Boasson Hagen has been forced to withdraw from the Giro d'Italia as a result of the injuries he has sustained during the race.

The Norwegian rider suffered a number of falls during a wet first week of action and began to feel pain in his ribs and back towards the end of last week.

Despite battling on, Boasson Hagen was given a thorough medical check up on the third rest day and the decision was taken to pull him out of the race before the stage start on Tuesday morning.

Team Doctor Steve Baynes said: "Edvald has been experiencing rib and back pain over the last couple of days, and with the cuts and bruises he's already sustained, the medical team felt the best decision was for him to withdraw from the race at this point.

"Edvald is bitterly disappointed but realises this is the best course of action. Some enforced time off the bike will allow him to make a full recovery before he begins competing again in due course."

Boasson Hagen had been keen to finish the first Grand Tour of the season but will now fly back to Oslo to fully focus on his recovery.

He said: "I'm sad to be leaving the race but I couldn't risk my injuries getting worse and affecting my longer-term fitness. I'm going to rest up now but I'll be back in training as soon as possible and am looking forward to competing again already."