2-Time Pro Challenge Winner Van Garderen Won’t Return This Year

<p>(AP Photo)</p>
<p>A teammate helps Tejay van Garderen of the U.S., left, after he fell ill during the 17th stage of the Tour de France.</p>
Photo: Tejay van Garderen, Tour de France, 17th Stage
A teammate helps Tejay van Garderen of the U.S., left, after he fell ill during the 17th stage of the Tour de France.

Instead, he has opted to race the Vuelta in Spain. Van Garderen told Velo News he needed to prove himself on quote a "bigger scale" after dropping out of the Tour de France with an illness last week. The Aspen resident was in third place in the tour.