Andy Schleck has confirmed he will miss this year's Tour de France after being injured in a crash at the Criterium du Dauphine.
Luxembourg rider suffers fractured pelvis
Andy Schleck has confirmed he will miss this year's Tour de France after suffering a fractured pelvis in a crash at the Criterium du Dauphine.
The RadioShack-Nissan rider fell heavily during the individual time trial on stage four of the race and abandoned two days later.
The extent of the damage was not initially clear but Schleck had an MRI scan on Tuesday which revealed the break.
He told a press conference on Wednesday: "Yesterday, I tried going riding for an hour in the rain but I realised straight away that it would be impossible.
"When I abandoned the Dauphine (on Saturday), I was in pain, but that was even worse. After that I knew that I could not go to the Tour.
"It is the biggest disappointment of my career. I would rather have finished last on the Tour than not be able to participate at all."
It is expected that the injury will take between four and six weeks to heal, meaning he will not recover in time for cycling's July showpiece.
Olympics target
"I will need to be back to 100 percent before I can start riding again. I hope to be at the Olympics," Schleck confirmed, adding that he also hopes to take part in the Vuelta a Espana, the Road Race World Championships and the Tour of Lombardy.
Schleck was recently confirmed as the winner of the 2010 Tour de France, being promoted from second place after Alberto Contador was disqualified for a doping offence.
The climbing specialist has finished the race as runner-up on two further occasions, to Contador in 2009 and to Cadel Evans last year.
Despite an increased number of time trial kilometres in the 2012 race he was still regarded as one of the favourites for victory, and his withdrawal will be a boost to other overall contenders such as Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins.
