Spanish cyclist Alberto Cotador confirmed on Wednesday that he will be forced to pull out of this year's Vuelta de Espana (Tour of Spain) cycle race as a result of the injury he suffered recently in the Tour de France.

Contador had been among the favorites to win the Tour, especially after last year's winner Chris Froome was forced to withdraw from the race with a broken wrist, but a fall on the tenth stage saw him fracture his tibia and he too had to step off his bike.

Following Contador's crash, Froome sent a message saying he hoped they would meet again in the Vuelta, but a 'tweet' from Contador on Wednesday confirmed he will not take part in the race which begins on August 23 in the south of Spain.

"It's a bad day today, the scarring on my injury has got complicated and I don't have a date for when I will get back on my bike. Goodbye to the Vuelta," wrote the man who has won two Tours de France, two Vueltas and the Giro de Italia during his career.