Fabian Cancellara a doubt for Tour de Suisse with illness

Having only recently made his comeback at the Tour de Fjords last month after suffering from cracked vertebrae in a crash at E3 Harelbeke, Fabian Cancellara's season looks to have taken another hit as Trek Factory Racing report that their star rider has been laid-off with illness.

It means Cancellara will miss his home race GP Kanton Aargau-Gippingen on Thursday, the one-day race that has traditionally acted as a warm-up for the Tour de Suisse.

Trek confirmed that the seven-time Monument winner is also a doubt for 10-day stage race, which begins on Saturday, putting a question mark over whether Cancellara will be ready in time for a Tour de France campaign.

"Fabian Cancellara is unable to take the start in Thursday’s GP Kanton Aargau-Gippingen, the traditional prelude race to the Tour de Suisse," Trek said in a statement.

"Cancellara is suffering from a bacterial infection in the throat. The medical staff of the team advised against participating in the race on Thursday.

"It is unclear whether Cancellara will be able to start at the Tour de Suisse. We will update you when there is more news."

The Tour de Suisse has often suited a time trialist or all-rounder rather than the pure climbers, with Cancellara having taken overall victory in the race in 2009 and Tony Martin having lead the GC until the final stage in last year's race.

Defending Tour de Suisse champion Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) will not feature at this year's race, as he rides at the Critérium du Dauphiné, while Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Mark Cavendish (Etixx - Quick-Step) are two of the big names down to start the this weekend's Prologue in preparation for the Tour in July.

On-board with Cofidis at the Critérium du Dauphiné team time trial