Australian Rohan Dennis has joined British cycling ace Mark Cavendish in leaving the Tour de France early ahead of the Olympics.
Like Cavendish, Dennis has decided it will not help his Rio preparations by staying on the Tour until Sunday's final stage in Paris.
Cavendish is aiming for the omnium on the track at the Games, while Dennis will be a medal contender in the road time trial.
Dennis will also provide support for compatriot and BMC teammate Richie Porte in the Olympics road race.
Cavendish and Dennis pulled out on the Tour's second rest day.
"BMC's performance and management team agree that it is not in his best interest to continue racing beyond stage 16," BMC sports director Yvon Ledanois said of Dennis.
"The next two weeks are crucial for him as he prepares for the Rio Olympics.
"Given the final time trial here at the Tour de France isn't suited to him, his preparation is best done at home in order to avoid further fatigue."
In a pointer to his form ahead of Rio, Dennis was fifth in the Tour's stage 13 time trial.
"It has been an incredibly tough two weeks of racing at the Tour de France and Rohan has been an asset to the team, both with his fifth place in the first time trial, and working in support of our leaders throughout the race," Ledanois said.
Likewise, Cavendish was mindful of the toll taken by the opening fortnight of the Tour when deciding to pull out now.
The sprint ace has been one of the stars of this year's Tour, winning four stages and also wearing the yellow jersey as overall leader for one day.
He overtook Bernard Hinault on the Tour's all-time stage wins list and now has 30, second only to Eddy Merckx's 34.
Cavendish would have been one of the favourites to win the Tour's famous last stage on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
"After the heat and intensity of the previous stages, we analysed my fatigue levels and decided I'm at a point that would have a detrimental effect on my other big goal for the year, the Olympic Games," Cavendish said on the team's website.
