Tours - Norwegian rider Edvald Boasson Hagen, a Team Sky colleague of yellow jersey holder Chris Froome, has abandoned the Tour de France after suffering injuries on a crash on stage 12, his team confirmed.
Boasson Hagen fell twice during the 218-kilometre ride from Fougeres.
The official race medical report later showed he had suffered bruising to his right elbow in the first fall before picking up a small fracture to a bone in his upper arm and his right shoulder blade when falling again near the finish line.
Sky said in a statement: "After the crash Edvald was taken to a local medical centre for x-rays which revealed he had a fracture of his right scapula (shoulder blade).
"Fortunately this doesn't require surgery but Edvald will return home to Norway for further investigation and treatment and we look forward to seeing him racing again sometime over the summer."
Team Principal Dave Brailsford added: "It's a real shame for Edvald and a setback for the team that he's been forced to abandon the race.
"It's never nice to lose a rider of Edvald's ability, but ultimately we're still confident that with the riders we've got left we can pull together and see the race through.
"The plan doesn't change and we will do everything we can to support Chris (Froome)."
The injury comes as a big blow to Froome and Team Sky, who also lost Belarusian rider Vasil Kiryienka when he finished outside the time limit on stage nine in the Pyrenees.
Boasson Hagen won two stages on the Tour in 2011 and was part of the Sky team last year when Bradley Wiggins won the yellow jersey.
Boasson Hagen fell twice during the 218-kilometre ride from Fougeres.
The official race medical report later showed he had suffered bruising to his right elbow in the first fall before picking up a small fracture to a bone in his upper arm and his right shoulder blade when falling again near the finish line.
Sky said in a statement: "After the crash Edvald was taken to a local medical centre for x-rays which revealed he had a fracture of his right scapula (shoulder blade).
"Fortunately this doesn't require surgery but Edvald will return home to Norway for further investigation and treatment and we look forward to seeing him racing again sometime over the summer."
Team Principal Dave Brailsford added: "It's a real shame for Edvald and a setback for the team that he's been forced to abandon the race.
"It's never nice to lose a rider of Edvald's ability, but ultimately we're still confident that with the riders we've got left we can pull together and see the race through.
"The plan doesn't change and we will do everything we can to support Chris (Froome)."
The injury comes as a big blow to Froome and Team Sky, who also lost Belarusian rider Vasil Kiryienka when he finished outside the time limit on stage nine in the Pyrenees.
Boasson Hagen won two stages on the Tour in 2011 and was part of the Sky team last year when Bradley Wiggins won the yellow jersey.