New Zealand cyclist Greg Henderson has been forced out of the Tour de France after crashing on the fourth stage to Lille today.
The 37-year-old crashed with about 20kms to go in the race, landing heavily on his knee.
It left Henderson with a 12cm split on his knee which left his patella exposed.
Henderson is now heading back to the Team Lotto-Belisol base in Belgium to undergo surgery and he is in doubt for the Commonwealth Games later this month.
Thanks for the messages. Silly crash and I landed on my weak knee. It just exploded. Messy looking thing. Off to Surgery now. #keepuposted
Henderson is the leadout man for the Lotto-Belisol sprinter Andre Greipel, with the German saying it's now going to be difficult without the New Zealander.
Giant-Shimano rider Marcel Kittel won yet again on the Tour de France, grabbing his third stage of four in the sprint into Lille.
Tour de France in association with Skoda