Team Sky withdraw from Spain Tour

Gonzalez was a former amateur rider

Team Sky have pulled out of the Tour of Spain following the death of masseur Txema Gonzalez.

The 43-year-old died in hospital in Seville five days after being taken ill with a bacterial infection.

Team doctor Steve Peters said the infection was not linked to the virus affecting its riders on the Tour.

"We have considered all the elements very carefully and this is the only decision we could take," said team chief Dave Brailsford.

"It's the right one; to show respect to Txema and to look after our team.

"We have considered all the elements very carefully and this is the only decision we could take. It's the right one; to show respect to Txema and to look after our team.

"We discussed it with Txema's family and they fully support our decision. They have asked us to the funeral next week and we will of course be there to support them and to pay our respects.

"Others - staff and riders - have been ill during this Tour and Juan Antonio Flecha pulled out on Friday. The medical conditions are different but we need to take care of our team.

"Txema will be remembered as a warm-hearted colleague who was a joy to work with."

Team Sky rider Juan Antonio Flecha pulled out of Friday's seventh stage of the Tour of Spain because of a fever and upset stomach.

Ben Swift and John Lee Augustyn, team-mates in the British outfit, withdrew from the race on Monday after suffering sickness.

606: DEBATE RIP Txema Gonzalez MMP

However, Dr Peters said: "I should clarify that [Gonzalez's] bacterial infection has nothing to do with the viral infection which many of the team have suffered with in Spain."

"Txema contracted a bacterial infection which entered the bloodstream and developed into sepsis.

"The toxins from this had damaged the organs in his body and he went into septic shock and unfortunately succumbed to that."

Gonzalez was an amateur rider with Spanish team KAS and worked with the ProTour teams Euskaltel-Euskadi and Saunier Duval before joining Team Sky for their debut season in 2010.

A minute's silence in his memory will be held before the start of the Tour of Spain's eighth stage on Saturday.

Britain's Mark Cavendish finished second in Friday's seventh stage, behind Alessandro Petacchi of Italy.

Belgium's Philippe Gilbert is overall leader, followed by Spaniards Igor Anton in second place and Joaquim Rodriguez in third.

Potenshöjande medel - köp cilais online