Sir Bradley Wiggins pulls out of Tour de France

Wiggins became the first Briton to win the world-famous cycle race last year before going on to win time trial gold at the London Olympics.

But 2013 is turning out to be the Team Sky rider’s annus horribilis.

First Team Sky team nominated team-mate Chris Froome as lead rider in Le Tour – effectively ending Wiggins’ hopes of retaining the yellow jersey.

Then he was forced to pull out of the Giro d’Italia ahead of stage 13 earlier this month after coming down with a chest infection.

Unable to train

The illness and a swollen left knee has meant Wiggins has been unable to train, and he was left out of Team Sky’s squad for the Dauphine Libere race in France on Sunday.

Now team bosses say they have ruled him out for selection for the Tour de France, which runs from 29 June to 21 July.

It marks a spectacular run of bad luck for a rider was talking as recently as last month about claiming a Giro and Tour double this year.

I can’t train the way I need to train and I’m not going to be ready. Sir Bradley Wiggins

Wiggins 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.”

‘I’ve been through this before’

Wiggins crashed out of the 2011 Tour after he broke his collarbone in a crash. And he suffered a fractured rib and other injuries in a collision with a car near his home in Lancashire last year.

He added: “I’ve been through this before, when I broke my collarbone, so I know how it works. I’ll get this sorted, set new goals for this season and focus on those.

I’ll get this sorted, set new goals for this season, and focus on those. Sir Bradley Wiggins

“This team has so many riders in great shape, ready for selection and we set incredible standards for performance which shouldn’t be compromised. We need to have the best chance to win.”

Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: “With illness, injury and treatment, Brad has gone past the point where he can be ready for the Tour. It’s a big loss but, given these circumstances, we won’t consider him for selection.

“He hasn’t been able to train hard since the Giro and now he needs further rest. Whilst we all know these things happen in sport, it doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a huge disappointment for everyone in the team – and above all for Brad.

“It’s incredibly sad to have the reigning champion at Team Sky but not lining up at the Tour. But he’s a champion, a formidable athlete and will come back winning as he has before.”