Bradley Wiggins was ruled out of Team Sky's squad for Sunday's Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands after being stranded in Spain.

Air restrictions remained in place in northern Europe on Saturday due to an ash cloud from a volcanic eruption in Iceland, meaning Tour de France fourth Wiggins was unable to make it from his Girona base to the start line in Maastricht in time.

Chris Froome was also affected and faced a long drive from Tuscany.

However Team Sky were better placed than many of the other 23 teams as most of their riders have been based in Maastricht since the middle of the week in order to recce the route for the first of the Ardennes Classics.

Kjell Carlström, Russell Downing, Simon Gerrans and Davide Viganò went direct from Wednesday's Brabantse Pijl in Belgium and they were joined by Lars-Petter Nordhaug and Mathew Hayman.

But with many other airports remaining closed plenty of other teams had to alter plans to get their riders to Maastricht.

"This is force majeure. Nothing can be done against this," said race director Leo van Vliet on the Amstel Gold Race official website.

"Several teams have contacted our organisation and they are already taking all possible measures so that they can be [here] on time. That is clever. My opinion is that the problem will solve itself, but most important is that the ash cloud disappears soon."