Menchov targets Tour rather than Vuelta defence

Russian cyclist Denis Menchov will target success in the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia this year rather than try to defend his crown in the Tour of Spain.

"My idea is to aim for the Tour de France and I think the Giro is a race that will help me prepare for that and so I have decided against riding in the Vuelta," the Rabobank rider was quoted as saying.

"At Rabobank we've got a very strong team in all areas. We've got people who can challenge for overall victory, sprinters like (Oscar) Freire and one-day specialists like Juan Antonio Flecha."

Menchov, who also won the Tour of Spain in 2005, won the 11th stage of the Tour de France in 2006 but abandoned last year's race.