Mark Cavendish has decided not to start Sunday's 15th stage of the Tour de France from Embrun to Prato Nevoso.
The Team Columbia sprinter has won four stages of the race but has opted not to battle through the first Alpine stage, choosing instead to have a brief rest before completing his preparations for the Madison at the Beijing Olympic Games on August 19.
Cavendish has been lined-up to appear in some of the post-Tour criteriums and is flying to Beijing on August 9.
After his fourth stage win in Nimes on Friday, he admitted he was feeling tired but that the idea of contesting the green jersey or winning the final stage on the Champs-Elysees had started to appeal.
But after losing contact on the final climb of Saturday's stage to Digne-les-Bains and seeing Oscar Freire stretch his lead in the points competition even further, Cavendish has decided to call it a day.
He's completed two weeks of the Tour de France, winning four stages, on the back of finishing the three-week Giro d'Italia in May. That's five weeks of grand tour stage racing and six wins for a second-year professional.
The next goal is the Madison and battling on in the Tour as tiredness sets in could have jeopardised his chances of winning gold with Bradley Wiggins.
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Comment: Why Cav is right to go home today
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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: STAGE REPORTS
Stage 13: Cavendish takes fourth win
Stage 12: Cavendish makes it three
Stage 11: Arvesen wins
Stage 10: Evans takes yellow jersey by one second
Stage nine: Ricco wins in the Pyrenees
Stage eight: Cavendish wins again in Toulouse
Stage seven: Sanchez takes action-packed stage
Stage six: Ricco storms to win
Stage five: Cavendish takes first Tour win
Stage four: Schumacher wins TT and takes race lead
Stage three: Dumoulin wins stage from break
Stage two: Hushovd wins chaotic sprint
Stage one: Valverde wins
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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: NEWS
Ricco speaks on Italian television
Cavendish joins the all-time greats
Saunier Duval sack Ricco and Piepoli
Tour bosses say fight against doping continues
Ricco denies doping at the Tour
Saunier Duval pull out of Tour
Tour's top ten changes
Ricco positive for EPO at Tour
Analysis: Tour de France rest day summary
Cavendish battles through Pyrenees
Evans suffers but takes yellow jersey [stage 10]
Analysis: Hautacam shakes up 2008 Tour
Ricco silences critics with solo attack in Pyrenees [stage nine]
Cavendish talks about his second stage win [stage eight]
Beltran heads home but doubts remain about other Tour riders
David Millar: the dope controls are working
Manuel Beltran tests positive for EPO at the Tour
Comment: How the Tour rediscovered its spirit
Doping back in Tour de France headlines
Millar: close but no cigar in Super-Besse [stage six]
Super-Besse shows form of main contenders [stage six]
Millar to go for yellow [stage six]
Team Columbia's reaction to Cavendish's win [stage five]
Cavendish talks about his Tour stage win
Tour comment: Why Evans should be happy [stage four]
Millar: Still aiming for Tour yellow jersey [stage 4]
Who is Romain Feillu?
Cavendish disappointed with stage two result
Millar too close to Tour yellow jersey
Stage 2 preview: A sprint finish for Cavendish?
Millar happy after gains precious seconds in Plumelec
Valverde delighted with opening Tour stage win
Comment: Is Valverde's win a good thing for the Tour?
Sports journalist Lionel Birnie has written professionally for Sunday Times, Procycling and of course Cycling Weekly. He is also an author, publisher, and co-founder of The Cycling Podcast. His first experience covering the Tour de France came in 1999, and he has presented The Cycling Podcast with Richard Moore and Daniel Friebe since 2013. He founded Peloton Publishing in 2010 and has ghostwritten and published the autobiography of Sean Kelly, as well as a number of other sports icons.
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