Vinokourov ruled out of Tour

Vinokourov (left) won an Olympic silver medal in Sydney

Telekom team rider Alexander Vinokourov has pulled out of the Tour de France because of injury.

The 28-year-old from Kazakhstan, who won the Paris-Nice race at the start of the season, will be replaced by 26-year-old German Udo Bolts for Saturday's 7km prologue.

It is another blow for the Telekom team, who have already lost team leader Jan Ullrich to a knee injury.

Vinokourov's problems stem from a fall during the fifth stage of the recent Tour of Switzerland.

"It's not even worth trying," said Vinkourov. "It's sore even trying to walk."

"I tried to train with my team-mates but I could not keep the pace," he said.