
Thomas De Gendt is set to skip this year's Tour de France to instead take on a 12-day ride from Belgium to Spain in preparation for the Vuelta a España.
The veteran, who has raced nine Tours de France, recently rode the Critérium du Dauphiné and told his Lotto-Dstny team that he doesn't feel ready to take on the Tour next month. Instead, he'll ride from Semmerzake to Calpe as he prepares to race the ninth Vuelta of his career.