Spain's Alejandro Valverde has decided not to ride in this year's Tour of Spain and will instead concentrate on next month's world championships in Madrid.
The 25-year-old was one of the favourites for the race after his fourth-place finish last year.
He won the 10th stage of the Tour de France last month but was forced to abandon the race three days later because of a knee problem.
Although he has recovered from the injury Valverde says he is not ready for the rigours of a three-week tour.
"The Vuelta (Tour of Spain) is out of the question now because I haven't regained the sort of fitness needed for the race and it isn't worth taking part just to suffer," the Illes Balears rider told Spanish sports daily Marca this morning.
