Defending champion Chris Froome says he is devastated to be leaving the Tour de France after abandoning during stage five.

The 29-year-old, who won three stages as he stormed to victory in 2013, crashed twice in treacherous conditions having already started the race with his wrists bandaged after falling heavily on stage four.

And after his second crash, which occurred on the rain-soaked tarmac before the race had even hit the first of seven cobbled secteurs, a visibly upset Froome climbed into the team car.

With the peloton fighting for road position as they prepared to tackle the first section of pavé, Froome fell as Sky moved riders towards the head of the race.

And having abandoned, after talking with team doctor Alan Farrell and DS Nicolas Portal, Froome took to Twitter to admit his bitter disappointment at abandoning.

“Devastated at having to withdraw from this year’s Tour de France,” he wrote. “Injured wrist and tough conditions made controlling my bike near impossible.

“Thanks to the team for trying to get me through. Wishing @richie_porte & @TeamSky the best for the rest of the Tour!”

Going to miss having @chrisfroome around for this TdF but sure he’ll be back next year stronger than ever #lionheart

— Richie Porte (@richie_porte) July 9, 2014

Many of Froome’s fellow riders, including team-mate Richie Porte who finished the crash-laden stage as Sky’s best-placed rider overall, also took to Twitter to offer support to Froome.

It leaves just two British riders in the race – Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) and Simon Yates (Orica-GreenEDGE) – after Mark Cavendish was also forced to abandon injured having crashed on stage one.

Absolutely gutted for Froomey and the whole team. Can’t believe it.

— Ben Swift (@swiftybswift) July 9, 2014

Porte moved up to eighth overall after a late attack off the front of a group of contenders also containing Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), 1’54” behind yellow jersey Vincenzo Nibali.

The Australian – who missed the chance to lead Team Sky at the Giro d’Italia due to illness, is now set to lead the team’s GC charge while Thomas lies 14th overall, a further 22 seconds back.

From here I want to give support to @chrisfroome ,months of work and everything gone.A big loss for the Tour. See you here next year.

— Alberto Contador (@albertocontador) July 9, 2014

For Froome, however, it is another blow in an injury-disrupted season, which has already seen him pull out of Tirreno-Adriatico and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

He also crashed heavily at the Criterium du Dauphine, while in the yellow jersey, and suffered a subsequent loss of form to drop out of the top ten.