Scott Thwaites has shrugged off the disappointment of missing out on a ride in the Tour de France to focus on his next big challenge.

His hopes of being part of the peloton when it snakes its way past his home town of Burley-in-Wharfedale this weekend were shattered when he was only named as a reserve for the NetApp Endura team.

Rather than being the centre of media attention as the only Yorkshireman in the world’s greatest cycle race, the 24-year-old is likely to be among the spectators watching the action.

But his mind is focussed on his preparation for the Commonwealth Games road race in Glasgow on August 3 when he will be in an England team that includes the 2012 Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins.

He said: “I wasn’t surprise to be left out of the Tour de France. It would have been a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to ride in the race in Yorkshire, but it has probably come around too soon in my professional career.

“Riding in a three-week tour is tough and missing out this time means I can have a good rest before preparing for the Commonwealth Games.

“I do hope to ride the Tour de France in the future when I have some more experience behind me and perhaps the course is more suited to my style of riding.”

Thwaites, who was a non finisher in last Sunday’s National Road Race Championship at Abergavenny, is determined to put his feet up for a few days after a demanding recent schedule.

He said: “It was a tough course and I was still feeling tired from racing in the Criterium Dauphine. I also had to get my team to send a new frame over from Germany for my bike after I broke one in training.

“Riding the Dauphine was great experience. It was a week of intense racing with tough stages every day, but it was very tiring.”

After talks with his team’s management it was agreed that Thwaites, who has already raced in the tours of Qatar and California this year, would not travel with NetApp Endura’s squad to the Tour of Qinghai Lake in China.

Thwaites raced in it last year but it was felt a rest followed by a build up in training for the Commonwealth Games would be more beneficial to him.

Thwaites, who usually trains over the route being used for the first two stages of the Tour de France, joked: “The roads are going to be full of cyclists for the next few days so I will have no problem resting.

“Once I get out there again I will be working to get myself into top shape for the Commonwealth Games. I am really looking forward to it.”