( CNN ) -- Defending Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins has been forced out of this year 's race due to an ongoing knee condition , the Briton 's Sky Pro Cycling team announced on Friday . Wiggins , the first British rider to win cycling 's most prestigious event , withdrew from the Giro d'Italia with a chest infection on May 18 and he was scheduled to rest and train as well as receive treatment on his knee . But the seven-time Olympic medalist , who has also withdrawn from the Criterium du Dauphine and the Tour de Suisse , has now ran out of time to adequately prepare for the Tour de France , which begins on the island of Corsica on June 29 . `` It 's a huge disappointment not to make the Tour . I desperately wanted be there , for the team and for all the fans along the way -- but it 's not going to happen , '' the 33-year-old told Sky Pro Cycling 's official website . `` I ca n't train the way I need to train and I 'm not going to be ready . Once you accept that , it 's almost a relief not having to worry about the injury and the race against time . `` I 've been through this before , when I broke my collarbone , so I know how it works . I 'll get this sorted , set new goals for this season and focus on those . '' Team principal Dave Brailsford expressed disappointment at the news , although it had already been confirmed Wiggins would play second fiddle to compatriot Chris Froome at this year 's Tour . `` With illness , injury and treatment Brad has gone past the point where he can be ready for the Tour , '' said Brailsford , who is also performance director of British Cycling . `` It 's a big loss but , given these circumstances , we wo n't consider him for selection . `` He has n't been able to train hard since the Giro and now he needs further rest . Whilst we all know these things happen in sport , it does n't take away from the fact that this is a huge disappointment for everyone in the team -- and above all for Brad . ' '' It 's incredibly sad to have the reigning champion at Team Sky but not lining up at the Tour . But he 's a champion , a formidable athlete and will come back winning as he has before . '' Team doctor Richard Freeman said Wiggins had completely recovered from his chest infection , but his knee was worse than first thought . `` `` The chest infection that caused his withdrawal from the Giro has responded to treatment and rest . It has completely cleared up , '' explained Freeman . `` However , further medical investigations on the knee injury that we were managing at the Giro showed the condition was more significant than we thought . `` It has needed intensive treatment and , whilst it will be fully resolved , Bradley now needs to rest completely for five days before a gradual , return to full training over a period of two to three weeks . '' Wiggins was set to play a supporting role to Sky 's lead rider Froome at this year 's Tour . Kenyan-born Froome finished second in last year 's race and is one of the favorites to take the yellow jersey in 2013 .
Defending champion Bradley Wiggins withdraws from the 2013 Tour de France . The British cyclist has failed to recover from an ongoing knee injury . Wiggins was forced to pull out of the Giro d'Italia with a chest infection . Wiggins was set to support Chris Froome 's bid for success at this year 's race .