British Rider Ruled Out of Tour de France with Shoulder Injury

A British rider has been ruled out of this summer's Tour de France after tests confirmed a significant shoulder injury. The 23-year-old crashed on stage six of the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes two weeks ago, plunging over a roadside barrier before landing in tree cover above a steep drop.

He completed that stage but did not start the next day. The team announced on Thursday that further medical investigations showed the shoulder injury would prevent participation in the Tour de France, which begins on 4 July.

A team statement said the rider has already started rehabilitation and is making encouraging progress. The withdrawal adds to the team's challenges for the race after another rider also crashed on the same stage and fractured a collarbone.

The rider said he is disappointed not to compete but will focus on recovery while remaining motivated to salvage the rest of the season. He added that he looks forward to watching the team's riders compete in France. The rider joined the squad over the winter after finishing fourth overall and second in the young riders' classification at last year's Tour de France.