Team Sky withdraw from Tour of Spain

Team Sky have withdrawn from the Tour of Spain following the death of their Spanish assistant Txema Gonzalez.

'We have considered all the elements very carefully and this is the only decision we could take,' the British team's principal Dave Brailsford said in a news release on Saturday.

Gonzalez, 43, died on Friday after a severe bacterial infection developed into sepsis.

'It's the right one, to show respect for Txema and to look after our team,' Brailsford said.

'Txema's death is devastating to everyone in Team Sky. We've lost a good friend, a much respected and valued colleague.'

Three Sky riders have withdrawn from the race with illness so far but the team said that there was no link with Gonzalez's death.

'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,' said Brailsford.

A minute's silence will be held at the start of the Tour of Spain's stage eight on Saturday morning from Villena to Xorret del Cati and the team said they will attend Gonzalez's funeral next week in Spain.