Philippe Lopez, AFP/Getty Images
Germany’s Marcel Kittel celebrates his green jersey of best sprinter on the podium at the end of the 165 km sixteenth stage of the 104th edition of the Tour de France cycling race on July 18, 2017 between Le Puy-en-Velay and Romans-sur-Isere. Getting your player ready...
SERRE-CHEVALIER, France — Green jersey holder Marcel Kittel has abandoned the Tour de France after crashing during the first climb of Stage 17 in the Alps.
TV footage showed Kittel being treated by the race doctor, with blood dripping on his right leg. The German sprinter won five stages this year.
Kittel, who had already endured a bad day in the previous stage and had his lead in the best sprinter’s classification cut to 29 points, crashed after about 20 kilometers Wednesday. He had to change his bike before calling it quits moments later.
Australian rider Michael Matthews is now the favorite to win the green jersey in Paris on Sunday.