Gilbert withdraws from Tour de France after stage 16 crash

Carcassonne (France): Belgian cyclist Philippe Gilbert was on Wednesday forced to pull out from the 2018 Tour de France after he sustained a kneecap injury during the race's 16th stage.

The Quick Step rider crashed into a stone wall on Tuesday on the 218 kilometre-long stage from Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon.

"I have a fracture on the kneecap and it will take me off the bike for a few weeks, we do not know yet how many weeks but at least like four or five weeks, I think," the 36-year-old said in a video posted to Twitter.

"After every crash, I will stand up and fight back and I think the next victory will have a very special feeling for me. I think there will be a lot of emotion for this one so let's hope it is coming soon," he added.

On Tuesday, Gilbert's teammate Julian Alaphilippe of France won the 16th stage of the race, his second stage victory of the Tour.