Van Garderen and Martin crash out of the Vuelta

The BMC Racing rider, who also abandoned the Tour de France last month because of illness, fell off his bike with some 50 kilometres left along with other riders including Ireland's Dan Martin who had been third overall before the stage and also abandoned.

"BMC Racing Team's (Tejay van Garderen) has withdrawn (injuries from a crash)," BMC Racing wrote on their Twitter feed.

"We can confirm that Dan Martin has withdrawn from La Vuelta following a crash. Has been taken to the hospital," Martin's Cannondale-Garmin said on Twitter.

Belgian Kris Boeckmans, who was also involved in the crash, was taken to hospital but was conscious, his Lotto-Soudal team said.