Sick Alberto Contador can't face Cadel Evans at Criterium International

AN early-season clash between Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador is off, with the Spaniard pulling out of this weekend's Criterium International.

Cadel Evans

AN early-season clash between Tour de France contenders Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador is off, with the Spaniard pulling out of this weekend's Criterium International on Corsica due to illness.

Evans, the first and only Australian to win the Tour de France, will now use the two-day stage race to work on tactics with his BMC Racing teammate and fellow Tour de France contender Tejay van Garderen.

The weekend racing is the only time the two riders will race together prior to the start of the 2013 Tour de France.

"Therefore it's really important for both of us as it is important to race with everyone whom you ride with at the Tour before the Tour," Evans said.

"I look forward to racing with him and getting to know him a bit better in our steps toward a good performance at the Tour."

Contador, on the comeback from a suspension, is already favourite to win this year's Tour de France.

But the Saxo Bank rider, who has shown good early season form with a third in last week's Tirreno-Adriatico, has come down with a case of the flu which will see him bypass Saturday's time trial in Corsica.

Instead the Spaniard will set his sights on winning the Tour of the Basque Country from April 1.