Alex Dowsett’s debut Tour de France is over, after the British time trial champion became the 23^rd man to climb off the bike in this year’s race.

Dowsett had suffered a bad cut on the cobbled stage four, and the pain of it – which he had fought for more than a week – finally became too much.

That he had survived this long after needing six stitches should not be taken lightly though, especially when you consider the contribution he made to Movistar’s team time trial, when he had to modify his set-up to account for his wounded arm.

Only Orica-GreenEDGE’s battered and bruised Michael Matthews was behind him on GC, but Dowsett has certainly take another step forward at the Tour – even if its premature end will be a disappointment to him.

The work he did against the clock, and in the crosswinds on stage two, showed the role he can play for the team on the flat, and you would hope the 26-year-old will have plenty more opportunities at the Tour in future.

A UCI Hour Record, first career stage race victory (Bayern-Rundfahrt), fourth national time trial title and a Tour de France debut mean it has been a very successful year so far for Dowsett, despite his early-season injury and latest setback.

Heal well Alex!