Great Britain's cycling stars Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish have announced they will not take part in next summer's Tour de France in order to concentrate on their Olympic quest for gold in Beijing.

Both riders performed admirably on their Tour debuts this year but while Wiggins was expected to withdraw, the announcement that Cavendish is also snubbing the world's greatest bike race came as a mild surprise.

"I know that the Tour is more important than the Olympics, but in Britain that is not the case," explained Cavendish in defence of his decision.

"I'll concentrate on the track after the first part of the season," he added.

Wiggins (pictured_, who was on course to complete this year's Tour and led a magnificent solo break during stage six before being caught towards the finish, has already won four Olympic medals including the pursuit gold in 2004.

His 2007 Tour was ended prematurely when Cofidis teammate Christian Moreni tested positive for doping and the team pulled out but his chances of winning a stage next year diminished with the recently announced course layout.

Cavendish meanwhile won the 2005 world championship madison gold medal with Robert Hayles.

Wiggins and Cavendish will instead take part in the Tour of Italy where stage wins might come easier and the race will also help their Olympic preparations for Beijing.

AFP