Bora-Hansgrohe‘s expected team leader for the Giro d’Italia has been ruled out of the race with a knee injury.

Leopold König, who joined the German team from Team Sky at the start of the 2017 season, had been expected to lead the team’s GC efforts in the 100th edition of the race, but will instead rest ahead of the second half of the year.

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“I really tried everything in the last weeks. I don’t feel it on easy rides, that’s why I kept training and hoping,” König said. “But whenever we started with intervals I felt pain and we had to take it easy again.

“I will take a rest now to fully recover and then start building up again for the second part of the season. For sure I am disappointed, not only for myself, but also for the team.”

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König had been expected to take to the start line in Sardinia on May 5 as a part of a strong Giro d’Italia start list alongside the likes of Vincenzo Nibali, Nairo Quintana, Fabio Aru, Geraint Thomas, and Simon and Adam Yates.

The Czech rider will now see a specialist about his injury, having not raced since January.