Swift signed for Team Sky in January 2010

Two Team Sky riders have quit the Tour of Spain during the third stage having been left sick by a mystery illness that has swept through the team.

"John Lee Augustyn and Ben Swift both pulled out because they could not continue as they were so sick," said team principal Dave Brailsford.

"Another three, Simon Gerrans, Ian Stannard and Pete Kennaugh are all really bad."

Britain's Mark Cavendish lost his Tour lead to Philippe Gilbert on Monday.

Brailsford added: "It's basically they can't stop vomiting but we don't think it's food poisoning.

606: DEBATE Illness aside, how have Team Sky performed this season?

"We've got our own chef and the riders and staff eat separately and we're always very vigilant about hygiene"

The sultry conditions in the 157.3km (97.7-mile) run from Marbella to Malaga were not to Cavendish's liking and he was left trailing by the peloton.

Gilbert broke clear in the final stages to capture the stage and claim a 14-second overall advantage over Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez.

Cavendish dropped to 138th in the 21-stage race, which ends on 19 September.

Spaniard Serafin Martinez made a burst for the line in Malaga but was overtaken by Gilbert, who then withstood the challenge of Rodriguez over the final kilometre to win by three seconds.

"The target was to win the stage so the leader's jersey is a bonus," said the 28-year-old, who recorded a time of four hours, six minutes and 12 seconds.

Gilbert, twice a winner of the Paris-Tours event, also won the Amstel Gold Race in April.

Tuesday's 183km (113-mile) stage will take the riders from Malaga to Valdepenas de Jaen

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