Publications
Partners
Bern - Australian Rohan Dennis quit the Tour de France on Tuesday's rest day in order to concentrate on his Olympic preparations.
Dennis is part of the Australian team for the Rio Games and will compete both in the road race and time-trial.
"It has been an incredibly tough two weeks of racing at the Tour de France and Rohan has been an asset to the team, both with his fifth place in the first time trial, and working in support of our leaders throughout the race," said his BMC Racing sports director Yvon Ledanois.
"The next two weeks are crucial for him as he prepares for the Rio Olympics and given the final time-trial here at the Tour de France isn't suited to him, his preparation is best done at home in order to avoid further fatigue."
Dennis, who won the opening stage time-trial at the Tour last year and wore the race leader's yellow jersey for a day, was sitting 126th overall at more than two and a half hours behind leader Chris Froome.
There are five stages left in the race this year, four of which are in the Alps.
The 26-year-old was part of the team pursuit squad that took silver behind Great Britain on the track at the last Olympics in London.
He's also a two-time world champion in team pursuit.
He held the world hour record for three months last year before it was beaten by Britons Alex Dowsett and then Bradley Wiggins.
