Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland grimaces as he crosses the finish line during the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 199 kilometers (123.6 miles) with start in Tomblaine and finish in La Planche des Belles Filles, France, Saturday July 7, 2012. Cancellara lost the yellow jersey to Bradley Wiggins of Britain. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours)
July 12, 2012 - 9:39 AM
ALBERTVILLE, France - Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara has pulled out of the Tour de France to return home to be with his wife for the birth of their second child.
The four-time world time trial champion withdrew before Thursday's 11th stage, which takes the peloton on a 148-kilometre trek in the Alps from Albertville to the ski resort La Toussuire. It features two beyond classification climbs before a final 18-kilometre punishing ascent at an average gradient of 6.1 per cent.
Cancellara says "I am not only a bike rider, I am also a husband and father with another baby on the way."
The RadioShack rider will return to competition at the London Olympics at which he will try to defend his gold medal in the time trial.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012