Kloeden exits Tour

Kloeden, who was already suffering from back pains, crashed on the descent of the Hourquette d'Ancizan in the 12th stage on Thursday and he just could not sustain the early pace on Friday.

He pulled out 115 kilometres from the finish in the 152.5-km stage from Pau.

Radioshack had already lost Slovenian Janez Brajkovic and American Chris Horner, who were targetting a podium finish in Paris, as well as Ukrainian Jaroslav Popovych.

Kloeden, 36, finished runner-up in the 2004 and 2006 Tours.