Fabian Cancellara withdraws with fractured vertebrae

The Swiss rider, 34, was defending the yellow jersey when William Bonnet inadvertently clipped a wheel with 60 kilometres remaining to send a chunk of the peloton sprawling to the tarmac.

The crash caused the race to be neutralised and then halted as riders swept up in the carnage trickled back to the front, while those on the road were treated.

Cancellara clambered back onto a bike to finish the race, but looked in severe discomfort as he crossed the line and later announced his withdrawal via Twitter.

Frenchman Bonnet was taken away in a neck brace by medical staff, with his team later announcing that he had fractured a vertebrae.

Australia’s Simon Gerrans, Dutchman Tom Dumoulin and Russian Dmitry Kozontchuk were also forced out of the race after the incident, while Daryl Impey pulled out shortly after the stage.