Alberto Contador rules out going to Rio Olympics

Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador said Tuesday he would not take part in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, due to several injuries sustained during the Tour de France.

Contador crashed twice in the opening days of the Tour and quit the race after falling ill with fever during the ninth stage.

Doctors found that the crashes had caused two sinew tears to the quadriceps and calf muscles.

“After this diagnosis, I’ve practically ruled out going to the Olympics,” Contador said at the Centro Clinic in Madrid, where he was treated by Dr. Manuel Leyes, a sports injury specialist.

The rider, who has won the Tour de France twice and holds seven titles in all three grand tours (France, Spain and Italy), said he was now focused on the Spanish Vuelta, which is scheduled to begin two weeks after the Olympics’ closing ceremony.