"[I] had a really good start of the year in the spring campaign, a lot of good results in the World Tour races there, and then obviously California, and in the first few weeks of the tour were, I think, maybe the highlight of my career so far, so it was just a shame that it all went to the dogs in the last part of it there when I got crook."
Bennett said he contracted a virus one day prior to the second rest day during the Tour de France in July, which has plaugued him ever since.
"The day before the second rest day I started getting a virus," the 27-year-old said.
"Then on the rest day, I was in bed for the day with a fever, not just a normal fever, but something pretty serious, and then tried to start the next day but it's been all downhill since then really."
Despite Bennett's absence, two-time Olympic rowing gold medallist Bond will still race in the men's time trial event on the September 20 in Bergen, Norway.
