Evans sustained his injury in Germany

The 26-year-old Telekom rider took a heavy fall in a race in Erfurt on Saturday and fractured his collarbone for the second time in six weeks.

"It took me five weeks to get back to race fitness after the last break and this time the fracture is worse," he said.

"I hit the road hard and fell on my shoulder and head and fractured the bone in the same place as last time."

Evans, who had been tipped as one of the leading challengers for this year's Tour, said it was not the end of the world if he missed out.

"If it turns out I can't start then maybe I'll focus on races later in the year and the World Championships in Hamilton, Canada in October."