Defending champion Bradley Wiggins has withdrawn from the Tour de France after a chest infection and a knee injury left him unable to train.

Wiggins had already been told by Team Sky that he would be riding in support of team-mate Chris Froome, but the absence of last year's yellow jersey winner still represents a huge blow for all concerned.

Wiggins, whose fitness issues saw him withdraw from the Giro d’Italia earlier this month, said: “It’s a huge disappointment not to make the Tour. I desperately wanted be there, for the team and for all the fans along the way – but it’s not going to happen.

“I can’t train the way I need to train and I’m not going to be ready. Once you accept that, it’s almost a relief not having to worry about the injury and the race against time.”

Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman gave the formal verdict on Wiggins, ordering no activity for the next five days before a gradual return.

With the tour beginning on June 29th, that left Wiggins with no chance of participating.

Freeman said: “The chest infection that caused his withdrawal from the Giro has responded to treatment and rest. It has completely cleared up.

“However, further medical investigations on the knee injury that we were managing at the Giro showed the condition was more significant than we thought.

“It’s needed intensive treatment and, whilst it will be fully resolved, Bradley now needs to rest completely for five days before a gradual, return to full training over a period of two to three weeks.”

Team Sky are believed to be lining up Richie Porte to take Wiggins’s place as chief support to Froome.