Thomas De Gendt will not appear at Tour de France as he still has some concerns about his condition: "It is better for my mental well-being"

Thomas De Gendt actually wanted to participate in the Tour de France for the tenth time this summer, but as per his own decision, the Belgian will not appear at the start of Grande Boucle next month.

The 36-year old De Gendt hoped to prepare himself for the upcoming Tour de France at Critérium du Dauphiné, but stepped off his bike early in tough final stage to Grenoble. In the beginning of the final stage, however, he showed himself in the attack. "However, I lost my cartridge before the hills even started."

"My legs are already quite good, I confirmed that on Thursday in the stage to Salins-les-Bains, where I spent 170 kilometers in the attack. Still I don't want to wait another week. It is better for my mental well-being that I cancel. You feel somewhere that you are not fully prepared, so I prefer to make the choice myself and focus fully on La Vuelta a España," De Gendt is clear.

De Gendt who recently expressed his wish to complete tenth Tour de France will therefore not be seen in the upcoming Tour, but will certainly not sit still in July. The experienced rider now plans to cycle to Calpe in Spain in twelve days.