Critérium du Dauphiné winner Janez Brajkovic (RadioShack) has withdrawn from France’s Tour de l’Ain organizers announced Tuesday.
The 22nd edition of the Category 2.1 stage race is part of the UCI Europe Tour and is slated to begin on Tuesday with a prologue in Ambérieu-en-Bugey.
The team did not cite a reason for Brajkovic’s withdrawal from the race.
Brajkovic, who rode an impressive Critérium du Dauphiné in June, defeating eventual Tour de France winner Alberto Contador (Astana) and HTC-Columbia’s Tejay van Garderen. He was expected to be a serious challenger in the mountainous stage race centered around France’s Jura Mountains.
He will be replaced by Japan’s Fumiyuki Beppu on RadioShack’s roster.