Tour de France: Kiwi Patrick Bevin forced out due to illness

  • 22/07/2018
Kiwi cyclist Patrick Bevin will miss the remainder of the Tour de France due to illness.
Kiwi cyclist Patrick Bevin will miss the remainder of the Tour de France due to illness. Photo credit: Getty Images

The BMC Racing rider was forced to abandon after suffering from ongoing gastrointestinal issues during the 14th stage on Sunday morning (NZ time).

Bevin was struggling, and he pulled the pin 75km from the finish line.

Despite his early exit, the 27-year-old achieved one of New Zealand's most significant results at the Tour when he was part of the successful BMC Racing team time trial on stage three.

Spain's Omar Fraile won the 188km stage, powering to victory with a late burst in the last climb from Saint-Paul-Trois- Chateaux.

The Astana rider caught Belgian Jasper Stuyven near the top of the Cote de Croix Neuve, a 3km ascent at an average gradient of 10.2 percent, and did not look back as he crossed the line.

Briton Geraint Thomas keeps the yellow jersey after finishing ahead of his principal rivals.

He holds a 1m39s lead over teammate and defending champion Chris Froome, with Dutchman Tom Dumoulin in third place, 1m50s off the pace.   

Newshub.