Road racing world champion Remco Evenepoel says he will not compete in next month’s Tour de France after his coronavirus-related early exit from the Giro d’Italia.

Speculation had arisen that the Belgian could make his Tour debut after lasting only one week at the Giro in May where he had been the top favourite but had to withdraw after two stage wins and as race leader following a positive test for COVID-19.

“There were talks but it became a ‘no’ very quickly,” Evenepoel said at the Tour de Suisse, which started on Sunday.

“I prepared for the Giro for six months and was in top form. Then I was off the bike for 10 days and it is not easy to get in shape for a race like the Tour.

Tweet from @EvenepoelRemco

“When I compete at the Tour it is all in. I want to be in 150 per cent shape. That was not possible, so it is logical decision.”

Evenepoel won his first grand tour at last year’s Vuelta and a second success was to follow at the Giro, and the Tour debut in 2024.

“I will certainly be there in the future, you just have to be a little patient,” Evenepoel said.

This year’s Tour starts on July 1 in Bilbao, Spain, and is expected to be a duel between Danish title holder Jonas Vingegaard and two-time winner Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia.