Fabian Cancellara lived up to his surname, 'Cancel-lara' after he decided to withdraw early from the tournament.
He announced the news on the race's first rest day last Tuesday.
It was not like Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck, and Mark Cavendish's exit in the Tour de France, where they all crashed out at one point, then definitely gave up on the race. For Cancellara, he declared his exit voluntarily.
The biker said that he wanted to concentrate on the Road World Championships in Spain on September.
A statement from Cancellara through the Trek Factory racing team said: "I will travel home now and take a little break. The season has been long for me, starting back in Dubai (in February).
"I have done 59 days of competition this season so far and I have another big goal at the end of this season: the World Championships.
"It's not a secret that I'd like to be in my best shape there, so it's important that I take some rest."
Nevertheless, Cancellara was showing a great performance prior to his early exit. He was fifth over the stage five stones. In fact, he was even considered by many as a favourite, and expected him to win the stage.
However, with Cancellara's, Schleck's and Danny van Poppel's absence from the Tour de France, the Trek Factory racing team was only left with six remaining riders.
Cancellara will be missed from the tournament, but the Tour de France goes on. The 11th stage on Wednesday showcases a 187.5 km route that stretches from Besancon to Oyonnax.
The Swiss man Cancellara on the other hand, is expected to garner a high place too in the World of Championships, after his superstar status in the Tour de France and other biking tournaments.
