LEADVILLE – Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will not defend his title at the Leadville 100 mountain bike race on Saturday due to lingering discomfort from a hip injury.

Organizers had said last week that the US cycling star would compete but Armstrong bowed out, saying he was still feeling a hip injury suffered in last month’s Tour de France.

Armstrong also wanted to spend time with his family before school resumed for his children.

A field of 1,500 riders will start at 10,500 feet and climb 2,000 feet more in the top US cycling high-altitude endurance challenge, held over 100 miles (160 km).

Armstrong won last year’s Leadville 100 in a record time of six hours, 28 minutes and 50 seconds.