Tour cancelled for Fabian

"Bjarne has made his decision, which I know was difficult for him. He selected riders who are stronger than me in the mountains. It's a tactical decision, and I have to respect it. What does that change? I can't say right now. It's going to take me a few days to recover from the disappointment."

The Paris-Roubaix winner had prepared his season around cycling's blue riband event, aiming for a repeat of his victory in the prologue two years ago, though was keen to clarify that he would always put the team's interests ahead of his own individual performances.

"I was not going to go to the Tour to put on a show but to work for the team. I have never ridden as an individual without thinking of the others. Besides, I improved my form a lot during the Tour of Switzerland."

Riis revealed his final squad in London on Monday, single minded about the team's objective: "We go to France this year with one ambition: To win with Ivan Basso."

The Tour de France begins with the prologue on July 1 in Strasbourg.