"It was hard to abandon Tour de France in rainbow stripes," says Kwiatkowski

Michal Kwiatkowski explains why he had to abandon the Tour de France on stage 17 and thanked his Etixx-Quick-Step teammates for their support

Michal Kwiatkowski at the 2015 Tour de France (Sunada)

(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

Michal Kwiatkowski admits it was a hard decision to abandon the Tour de France on stage 17 while wearing the world champion's rainbow stripes.

The Pole climbed off his bike and sat by the side of the road before the Col d'Allos climb having tried and failed to get into the day's winning breakaway.

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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.