Two days after his big win on the first stage of the Tour of Beijing, Thor Hushovd's 2013 season has been brought to a premature end. The Norwegian has left the race to be with his daughter who has had to be hospitalized with an undisclosed illness.

Two days ago, Thor Hushovd was on a high when he won the first stage of the Tour of Beijing and got the chance to wear the red leader's jersey on stage two. However, the Norwegian won't take any more wins in the Chinese race as family affairs have forced him to travel back to Norway.

His daughter has been hospitalized with a undisclosed illness and this has led Hushovd to the decision to leave the race to be with her. Yesterday the Norwegian had said that he expected the third and fourth stage to be too hard for him but that he hoped to excel in the final flat circuit race in Beijing.

"Obviously, it is a big disappointment," he said today. "Of course, I wish I could finish my season in downtown Beijing on Tuesday."

With Hushovd out of the Chinese race, his season has come to a premature end. Following a bad 2012 season which was hampered by illness, he got his new season off to a good start when he won a stage of the Tour du Haut Var. However, history seemed to repeat itself when he failed to make any impact on the classics and wasn't selected for the Tour de France.

Things turned around in the second half of the season when he won the Norwegian championships, a stage win in the Tour of Austria, two stage wins and the overall in the Arctic Tour of Norway and two stage wins in the Tour de Pologne preceding his win in Beijing.

Hushovd is generally pleased with a season that allowed him to rediscover his best legs.

"I had my ups and downs in the beginning of the year," he said. "My classics (season) was a disaster. But I had nine wins, which is quite good. So in total, I am satisfied with my season."

BMC showed that they are able to perform in Beijing despite the absence of their captain when Martin Kohler sprinted to 5th on today's stage.