(CNN) Rohan Dennis' unexplained withdrawal from the Tour de France midway through the 12th stage has left the cycling world perplexed, with his team director saying he is "confused and disappointed" by the Australian's decision.

The current world time trial champion, Dennis was among the favorites to win Friday's stage in Pau, but he walked away from the race on Thursday after stopping at a feed station with 130 kilometers remaining.

"It was his decision today to stop at the feed zone," Bahrain Merida team director Gorazd Stangelj told reporters.

"We tried to speak to him, we stopped also with the car and tried to find a solution, what was going on, and he said just I don't want to talk and abandoned the race."

Dennis won the individual time trial at last year's cycling world championships.

Rohan Dennis has walked away from the Tour de France without explanation.

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