Cycling - Tour of Beijing hit by Contador and Valverde withdrawals

Tinkoff's Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador celebrates as he crosses the finish line of the last stage of the 69th edition of "La Vuelta" Tour of Spain, a 9,7 km individual time trial in Santiago de Compostela on September 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO/ JAIME REINA (AFP Photo/JAIME REINA)

- Spanish cycling stars Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde both withdrew from the last WorldTour event of the season the Tour of Beijing on Monday.

Contador, who gained rich consolation for his early exit from this year's Tour de France by winning the Tour of Spain, fell on the final corner of Sunday's Tour of Lombardy and said after training on Monday he would not be able to compete in the Chinese race that takes place from October 10-14.

"I was finding it tough to pedal in training because my knee was sore," said the 31-year-old after he had been present for the unveiling of the route for next year's Tour of Italy.

While Contador will undergo further scans on his knee Valverde, who is certain to finish the season as WorldTour number one, didn't give a reason for his withdrawal.

AFP

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