Spanish star Juan Ayuso crashed out of Paris-Nice on stage four on Wednesday, while in the lead, but suffered no "serious injuries".
The Lidl-Trek rider was wearing the yellow jersey, having taken it on Tuesday in the stage three team time trial.
The incident took place away from cameras on a wet stage four with 46km to go. The 23-year-old attempted to keep riding, with his shorts showing visible tears on the left-hand side, but only managed a few yards before dismounting and lying down on the verge, clearly in some distress.
However, his Lidl-Trek team later confirmed: "Fortunately X-rays performed at the hospital in France did not reveal any fractures for Ayuso. A further clinical assessment performed by the team doctor on-site at the Team hotel has also ruled out any other serious injuries. Juan will continue to monitored by the team’s medical staff & another update will be provided only if necessary.
"Juan wants to express his disappointment at leaving the team at Paris-Nice and will be supporting his teammates from home."
Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Iván Romeo of Movistar were also involved in the crash, with McNulty ultimately forced to abandon too.
The riders had just descended the first of three categorised climbs of the, the third-cat Côte de la Croix de Cerisiers, before embarking on two bigger ascents – a second and then a first-cat – that would decide the day's result.
Ayuso was near the front, along with rival for the GC Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), with either looking as though they could make inroads on the GC. Vingegaard went on to win the stage.
The fourth of eight stages, Wednesday's 195km route runs from Bourges to Uchon and marked a watershed that sees the riders leave behind the rolling country of north central France and start to get involved in the proper climbs. Tomorrow they will reach the Massif Central range, before heading on to the Alps for the final two stages.
It will be a devastating blow to Ayuso, who is riding his first season for the German Lidl-Trek team and was enjoying a fine start. At the Volta ao Algarve – his only other race of the year – he won a stage and the GC and, up to now, Paris-Nice was looking good too.
