Levi Leipheimer has withdrawn from the Tour de France after breaking his wrist in a fall two kilometres from the finish line of Thursday's 12th stage.

Leipheimer was one of the main riders for the Astana team, along with seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong, 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador and Andreas Kloeden. He crossed the line at the back of the peloton, but still sat in fourth spot in the Tour's general classification. In an earlier Tour, Leipheimer also rode with the Rabo Bank team.

Levi Leipheimer by richardmasoner (flickr)