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Copenhagen - Spanish cycling star Alberto Contador Friday said his main focus for next season would be to win the 2012 edition of the Tour de France and he would therefore not defend the Giro d'Ialia title.
"When I race, it is hard not to want to race to win. Therefore it is better to train during next year's Giro," Contador said according to Danish news agency Ritzau.
Contador won the 2011 Giro and had been tipped as a crowd draw next year when the classic event opens in Denmark.
The 2012 Giro prologue is May 5 in the western town of Herning that will also host the first stage on May 6 while Horsens was to host the start and finish of the second stage on May 7.
The Spanish cyclist's remarks were made Friday in Herning. The town is home to former Danish cyclist Bjarne Riis, a one-time Tour de France winner, who now runs the Saxo Bank-Sungard team that Contador races for.
Contador also defended his team's performance at the Tour de France, saying his co-riders made a "100 per cent" effort even though he finished fifth.
Riis said he expected a lot from Contador in the coming four, five years, citing that he had "not shown his best" yet, Ritzau reported.
