Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong announced Wednesday to quit the Circuit de la Sarthe race before the second day, citing of illness.

Philippe Maertens, spokesman of Team Radio Shack which had six members fighting a stomach bug, told reporters that the American was suffering from diarrhea, vomiting and a fever, which seemed to him a really bad one.

Armstrong was on the 24th place after the opening day of the race in western France.