The popular and widely-respected Team Sky carer died in hospital in Seville this evening, at the age of 43, after contracting a bacterial infection .

The withdrawal, announced by Team Principal Dave Brailsford, was taken by the team and supported by the family.

The Vuelta organisers and world governing body UCI have been informed.

Brailsford said: "Txema's death is devastating to everyone in Team Sky.

"We've lost a good friend, a much respected and valued colleague.

"We have considered all the elements very carefully and this is the only decision we could take.

"It's the right one; to show respect to Txema and to look after our team.

"We discussed it with Txema's family and they fully support our decision.

"They have asked us to the funeral next week and we will of course be there to support them and to pay our respects.

"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.

"The organisers of the Vuelta and the UCI have both been informed of our decision and we are deeply grateful for their cooperation and understanding.

"We wish all the other teams in the race well and will now take time to deal with this tragic news.

"Our thoughts are with Txema's family."

Flecha was the third Team Sky rider to withdraw from the race, following South Africa's John Lee Augustyn and Britain's Ben Swift on Monday (August 30).

But Team Sky claimed that their illnesses were different to the one contracted by González.

Team Sky's Head of Medical Dr Steve Peters said: "Txema contracted a bacterial infection which entered the bloodstream and developed into sepsis.

"The toxins from this had damaged the organs in his body and he went into septic shock and unfortunately succumbed to that.

"I should also clarify that this bacterial infection has nothing to do with the viral infection which many of the team have suffered with in Spain, causing stomach upset."