CHATEAUROUX, France — João Almeida, a key teammate of Tour de France leader Tadej Pogačar, has abandoned the race.

Almeida, who fractured a rib during Stage 7, was dropped early during Sunday’s ninth stage between Chinon and Châteauroux, and UAE Team Emirates-XRG later announced over the race radio that the Portuguese rider had retired.

Almeida was caught in a high-speed crash earlier this week as riders scrambled for position at the front, 6 kilometres (4 miles) from the finish line. Almeida escaped without a concussion but his rib fracture finally proved to be too painful to carry on in the three-week race.

Almeida finished fourth at the 2024 Tour de France and started this year’s edition on the back of excellent preparations, having won the Tour de Suisse, Tour de Romandie and Itzulia Basque Country.

Sunday’s stage heads into central France on a 158-kilometre (98-mile) flat stage for sprinters.