Summary:
Chris Froome has been left gutted after losing a loyal team-mate on the resumption of the Vuelta a Espana.

Full article:
By . Kieran Gill for MailOnline . Follow @@kie1410 . Chris Froome lost a loyal team-mate on the resumption of the Vuelta a Espana on Wednesday as German domestique Christian Knees withdrew due to illness. Froome (Team Sky) finished second to race leader Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) on Monday's 16th stage. Sidelined: Team Sky lost German domestique Christian Knees after he withdrew due to illness . No go: Knees (right) was forced to leave his Team Sky team-mates after taking ill on Wednesday . And, after a rest day, resumed on Wednesday's 190.7-kilometre 17th stage from Ortigueira to A Coruna in third position, one minute 39 seconds behind the Spaniard. Froome wrote on Twitter: 'Sad to report that we have lost the 'German gangsta' @christianknees from our £LaVuelta team today due to illness... Get well soon!' Gutted: Chris Froome lost a loyal team-mate on the resumption of the Vuelta a Espana on Wednesday . Chasing: Team Sky's Froome finished second to race leader Alberto Contador on Monday's 16th stage .