Illness rules Alberto Contador out of Clasica de San Sebastian

Alberto Contador has ended his season four days earlier than planned as a fever contracted in the late stages of the Tour de France is yet to abate, forcing him out of the Clasica de San Sebastian.

Contador struggled to match the levels of Chris Froome, Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde at the Tour de France having come into the race off the back of winning the Giro d'Italia.

The Spaniard was attempting the rare Giro/Tour double - last completed by Marco Pantani in 1998 - but could only manage fifth place in the second half of the challenge; 9:48 behind winner Froome.

"Good morning all. Three days after the Tour and I still have a fever. Sadly I cannot be in San Sebastian," he wrote on Twitter on Wednesday morning.

Contador revealed earlier in the week that he would end his season after San Sebastian, having raced 65 days already this year, slowly reducing his time on the bike before a period of rest. He revealed that the 2016 season would be his last in the professional peloton.

 Check out Alberto Contador's Tour de France bike