Thursday 3 September 2015 19:21, UK
Fabian Cancellara has ruled himself out of racing at the UCI Road World Championships in the United States later this month.
The 34-year-old Swiss rider had been hoping to challenge for victory in the road race on September 27 but has admitted he does not have the mental strength to work his way back to fitness after being forced to leave the Vuelta a Espana last week due to a virus.
Cancellara has already made two comebacks this year, from separate vertebrae fractures in March and then July, and will now call an early end to his season.
In a statement released by his Trek Factory Racing team, the four-time world time-trial champion said: "Physically, I could probably go on and race the world championships, but it's the mind that controls the body, and I don't have the will to go through the whole comeback thing once more after the roller coaster that this season has been.
"Dealing with a serious injury during the course of one season is not easy, and I have had to do it twice already this year. It's mentally very challenging and it drains your energy. I don't have batteries anymore for a third come-back in one season."
The UCI Road World Championships will be held in Richmond from September 19-27.
