New Zealand rider Jack Bauer has crashed out of his maiden Tour de France after coming off on the hilly 19th stage, won by Portugal's Rui Costa.
Costa's second stage victory was a solo triumph, while Britain's Chris Froome retains the race leader's yellow jersey.
Bauer was released from hospital without fractures but still hurting after his crash on the Col de Glandon, one of five categorised climbs on the 204.5-kilometre ride from Bourg d'Oisans to Le Grand Bornand, left him with cuts and grazes to his face.
Bauer's Garmin-Sharp teammate David Millar also crashed on the rain-hit stage, hitting the tarmac on the descent of the final climb and suffering cuts to his elbow and hip.
The other riders to abandon during the penultimate day in the mountains were German Marcel Sieberg, who suffered fractures to his collarbone and elbow in a crash, Frenchman Christophe Le Mevel, Belgian Kris Boeckmans and Dutchman Tom Veelers.
Bauer's abandon effectively halved the number of New Zealanders in the race, leaving compatriot Greg Henderson, of the Lotto team, to soldier on to Paris.
Froome, who struggled during the previous stage up l'Alpe d'Huez, finished safely in the same group as his main challenger Alberto Contador over eight minutes behind the winner.
With two stages left, Froome's lead is five minutes and 11 seconds ahead of Spaniard Contador.
