EVANS OUT OF OLYMPIC TT

Australian Cadel Evans has pulled out of the time trial at the Olympic Games after he fell over and hurt his knee. The injury is yet more disappointment for the Silence Lotto rider, just days after missing out on his first Tour de France win.

The Australian had been favourite for the 2008 Tour de France since the start, but failed to overhaul Spaniard Carlos Sastre in the final 53km time trial. Evans will still ride the Olympic road race on August 9, but will not contest the 47km time trial.

"I slipped on a wet floor on Sunday night and my team doctor immediately had a look at it and said not to worry," said Evans who had been at the official post Tour team dinner. "I immediately headed back to the hotel and to bed and on Monday morning I felt a bit sore but didn't feel I'd done any damage.

"But on the flight home my knee began to swell up so I had to consider going to see a specialist who recommended cancelling my ride in the criterium in Belgium in favour of getting some scans done," said Evans. "It's not a major injury but it's something I will have to manage carefully.

"I recognised I might not be at my absolute best in the race against the clock but I can still make a significant contribution to the team effort for the road race," he said. "I'll be training and getting treatment over the next few days to confirm my participation by Monday.

Evans won the time trial test event in Beijing last year, and injury permitting will be one of the favourites for the road race. His time trial place will be taken by Michael Rogers, the triple world time trial champion who has barely raced this year.