Floyd Landis, one of the leading candidates to win this year's Tour de France, will need to undergo hip replacement surgery after the race finishes.
The American, who rides for the Swiss-based Phonak team, is currently second overall after eight stages, a minute behind Ukrainian Serhiy Honchar of T-Mobile.
Landis said: 'Using it (the hip) doesn't in any way increase the chance that it will be unusable later. It is already ruined.'
The 30-year-old fractured his right hip during a crash in training in January 2003.
He had pins inserted to mend the fracture and has since had two more surgical procedures - the last in 2004.
Now it appears the pain has intensified to the point where Landis will need a hip replacement.
Landis experiences the most pain during time trials and when he climbs steep hills.
The Tour resumes tomorrow with a 105-mile flat stage from Bordeaux to Dax, while the mountain stages begins on Wednesday in the Pyrenees.
