Bradley Wiggins has been forced to quit the Giro d’Italia due to a severe cold and chest infection. He has returned home to Manchester, having quit the race in 13th place. The Tour de France and Olympic champion had been suffering in the adverse weather that has followed this year's race.

Wiggins had battled illness on Wednesday's stage in Fruili, but had kept in touch with the leaders, losing just thirty seven seconds. Yesterday, however, he had fallen well off the pace during a rians wept stage in Treviso. Wiggins was left behind the peloton in driving rain, losing three minutes on the leaders. Team Sky Bosses felt that any continuation – considering the likelihood of continuing poor weather adversely affecting his health – was pointless and possibly dangerous for the Tour de France champion’s long term health. The most likely cause of Wiggins’ illness is the poor weather which has plagued the race thus far, with heavy rain and cold affecting four stages in the first ten days.

"We monitored Bradley overnight and this morning we've withdrawn him from the Giro after consulting the team doctor," the Team Sky head, Dave Brailsford, told The Guardian. "His chest infection has been getting worse and our primary concern is always the health of our riders. Bradley will return to the UK today for treatment and to rest and we hope to have him back on the road as soon as possible.

"As a passionate racer he wanted to continue but he is simply unable to do so on medical grounds."

The early withdrawal means Wiggins can reasonably hope to regain health and fitness in time compete in the Tour de France, and will potentially return to competitive action before then, possibly with the tour of Switzerland at the end of June.