Ardennes specialist Jelle Vanendert was forced to leave the Criterium du Dauphiné early in today's second stage as the Belgian had no power on the first climb of the day. He now returns to Belgium to find out the reasons and will only make a decision on his participation in the Tour de France when he knows more about his health condition.

Jelle Vanendert got a breakthrough at the 2011 Tour de France when he won the mountain stage to the top of the Plateau de Beille climb and enjoyed a prolonged stint in the polka-dot jersey. This year it is, however, not certain that the Belgian will return to the scene that saw him emerge as a star in his own right.

Vanendert had hoped to use the Criterium du Dauphiné as his final preparation for the world's biggest race but nothing went as planned at the French event. Already yesterday he lost 14 minutes to stage winner David Veilleux (Europcar) and today he was dropped as the first rider on a climb during the hectic and aggressive first hour of the race.

He threw in the towel moments later and abandoned the race, very frustrated and concerned by his current condition.

“Yesterday in the first stage I wasn’t good as well and today it didn’t go at all," he said. "Already on the first hill I had to let the group go and then you know it can’t go on like that. I don’t know what’s wrong, but I don’t have any strength and uphill I don’t move up one meter."

The disappointment comes at the end of a season which has not been going according to his ambitious plans. He came away empty-handed from his first season goal at the Ardennes classics and now his second objective is also in danger.

"The past months haven’t given what I had hoped for and that’s of course frustrating," he said. "In the Vuelta al País Vasco I had to quit, then it turned out I had an inflammation of my oesophagus, the Ardennes classics weren’t good enough and in the Tour of Belgium I had to throw up after one of the stages.”

He is now heading home to Belgium to find out what is wrong with his body. At the moment he is more worried about his health than the fact that he might miss the world's biggest race.

“Tonight I’m flying back home to Belgium where a series of tests are planned on Wednesday, then I hope to be wiser," he said. "It’s logical people ask the question ‘what about the Tour?’, but that doesn’t occupy me at this moment. First I want to know what’s wrong with my body so we can take the necessary measures to get healthy again; only then I can set goals again.”

The setback is also a huge blow to Jurgen Van Den Broeck for whom Vanendert is the most important domestique. The captain may now be forced to ride the Tour de France without his loyal teammate and in any case he will have to tackle the rest of the Dauphiné without that support.

Starting 1t 12.45 you can follow tomorrow's third stage on CyclingQuotes.com/live.