Two-time stage winner and former third-placed finisher Frank Schleck will not ride the Tour de France after complications related to an injury sustained at Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

The Luxembourgish champion, who is also unable to defend his national title as a result, is suffering ligament inflammation in his knee, causing chronic pain, and is the highest-profile absentee from the American team.

In his place, GC man Bauke Mollema will be backed by a strong climbing team including Colombian debutant Julian Arredondo – last year’s Giro King of the Mountains – and veteran Spaniard Haimar Zubeldia, who finished eighth last year.

Trek announced the team through Twitter, where nine selected fans posted one name each, but Schleck had already taken to his own account to confirm his absence.

He later added in a statement: “This is a big disappointment for me, of course, but it had been in the air for a while now.

“The pain never really lessened and the only way to let it heal would have been to take complete rest.

“It was a catch-22: if I wanted to make the Tour team, I had to rest. I needed to take a break in the preparation to let the knee heal. But if I wanted to be fit for the Tour, I needed to train hard.

Thank you @steffitjeuh_X! I am looking forward to the start in Utrecht with the @TrekFactory boys! https://t.co/0qrELT0FS6

— Bauke Mollema (@BaukeMollema) June 23, 2015

“The knee wasn’t getting any better during the Tour de Suisse, despite daily treatments and all of us hoping for a miracle. We took the decision together and I think it’s correct. I can’t push it for 21 days straight and hope to make it to Paris. What I need is rest.

“Not being at the tour, it’s a big thing for me. The Tour is the race I love the most, despite that it’s three weeks of stress. I did a lot of sacrifices, we did a recon of the key stages. It’s disappointing not to be able to race there and fight for the team’s goals.”

Another rider injured during the spring Classics, Fabian Cancellara, proved his form in his home country last week however, and will start among the favourites to win the stage one time trial and claim the first yellow jersey.

Cancellara has claimed the yellow jersey the last four times the Tour has opened with a time trial – in 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2007.

Having already tasted success in the Netherlands in 2010, too, Cancellara will be keen to continue that trend when the Tour starts in Utrecht on Saturday July 4.

Completing the Trek Factory Racing line-up, meanwhile, are Stijn Devolder, Laurent Didier, Gregory Rast and Bob Jungels to ensure the American team boasts a balanced nine-man squad for the race.

Trek Factory Racing squad for 2015 Tour de France

Julian Arredondo (COL)
Fabian Cancellara (SUI)
Stijn Devolder (BEL)
Laurent Didier (LUX)
Markel Irizar (ESP)
Bob Jungels (LUX)
Bauke Mollema (NED)
Gregory Rast (SUI)
Haimar Zubeldia (ESP)