Remco Evenepoel was forced to abandon this year’s Tour de France as Thymen Arensman claimed his maiden stage win.
Tadej Pogacar marginally extended his commanding overall lead over Jonas Vingegaard as the reigning champion finished second on a gruelling mountain stage, with Vingegaard third.
But Evenepoel, who was third in the general classification coming into a third punishing day in the Pyrenees, is now out of the race.
The double Olympic champion faltered on the first of four climbs on the 182.6km stage from Pau and had to withdraw, midway through the ascent of the mighty Col du Tourmalet.
“I didn’t have the best preparation coming into the Tour,” said the Soudal Quick-Step rider. “But I did everything I could to be in the best possible shape.
“Sadly, I just wasn’t at 110%, which is what you need at the Tour de France to fight for the general classification.”
German debutant Florian Lipowitz, 24, finished fifth on the day and climbed into the final GC podium place, and although British rider Oscar Onley lost time to Lipowitz, the 22-year-old Scot still moved up one place to fourth overall.
Dutch debutant Arensman reached the summit finish at the ski resort of Luchon-Superbagneres just over a minute before Pogacar for the 25-year-old’s first stage win and a first on this year’s Tour for British team Ineos Grenadiers.
