Young Australian cycling star Caleb Ewan and teammate Bradley Linfield have pulled out of next week's Herald Sun Tour, citing fatigue and illness.
The duo made their World Tour debut with the UniSA team at last week's Tour Down Under but on Friday withdrew themselves from the under-23 national team.
Ewan, the reigning under-23 criterium and road race national champion, said his focus was on ensuring he was fit and ready for the European season.
"It was going to be a pretty big January (for me) if I rode the Herald Sun Tour and I want to make sure I get to Europe fresh because that is my main goal this season," the 19-year-old said in a statement.
"I'm pretty tired, I had a little fall before the Bay Crits and again at the Tour Down Under so I think it's better to let my body have a rest and make sure I'm all good before heading over to Europe."
Victorian Thomas Hamilton and South Australia's Robert-Jon McCarthy will move into the under-23 squad, with defending champion Calvin Watson to join KordaMentha-Team Australia alongside reserve Matthew Lloyd.
Watson, who became the youngest winner of the Herald Sun Tour last year at 20 years old, was given the green light from his professional team Trek Factory Racing to represent Australia after initially being told the race didn't fit into their schedule.
"I am excited to be back, at first when I thought that I wasn't going to be returning I was quite disappointed," Watson said.
"It is always nice to return to your home race as the defending champion so I am really happy to be back and am excited to get the racing underway."
The Tour begins next Wednesday in Melbourne.
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