Tour de France contender Andy Schleck of Luxembourg has pulled out of the three-week cycle classic because he has a fracture in his pelvis.
Schleck, who was handed the 2010 title after race winner Alberto Contador failed a dope test during the Tour, finished second overall last year and had been expected to challenge champion Cadel Evans of Australia and Briton Bradley Wiggins.
His doctor says the type of injury suffered by Schleck usually needed four to six weeks to heal and cycling was not possible.
The RadioShack rider suffered the injury in a crash during an individual time trial in the Criterium du Dauphine earlier this month.
The 27-year-old says he's still looking forward to the Olympics and Schleck's main goal is the Vuelta in August, where he is likely to face Spaniard Contador, who will be back from his doping ban.
Schleck's older brother Frank is now expected to be the team's leader on the Tour, which starts on June 30th in Liege, Belgium.
