Leading NZ cyclist George Bennett rules himself out of world championships

George Bennett during the Tour de France.

Hamish Bond will be the sole Kiwi representative in the men's time trial at the road cycling world championships later this month.

Tour of California winner George Bennett has pulled out with the illness that forced him out of the Veulta A Espana.

The Tour of California winner was due to contest individual time trial alongside former rowing star Bond.

"I won't be there in Bergen," Bennett confirmed to Newstalk ZB this morning.

"It's been a bit of a disappointment for the last bit of the year, but it's still been a great season.

"[I] had a really good start of the year in the spring campaign, a lot of good results in the World Tour races there, and then obviously California, and in the first few weeks of the tour were, I think, maybe the highlight of my career so far, so it was just a shame that it all went to the dogs in the last part of it there when I got crook."

Bennett said he contracted a virus one day prior to the second rest day during the Tour de France in July, which has plaugued him ever since.

"The day before the second rest day I started getting a virus," the 27-year-old said.

"Then on the rest day, I was in bed for the day with a fever, not just a normal fever, but something pretty serious, and then tried to start the next day but it's been all downhill since then really."

Despite Bennett's absence, two-time Olympic rowing gold medallist Bond will still race in the men's time trial event on the September 20 in Bergen, Norway.