Dutch cycling hopeful Mathieu van der Poel pulls out of European Games road race

Netherlands cyclist Mathieu van der Poel has been forced to withdraw from next weekend's road race at Baku 2015 due to illness.

The 20-year-old world junior champion has failed to shake off an infection, meaning that a replacement will be sought before Sunday's event.

"He has not fully recovered from a bacterial infection", Netherlands technical director Thorwald Veneberg told reporters.

Van der Poel, who is the grandson of French cycling legend Raymond Poulidor, was among the favourites to finish on the podium in the road race event.