Top Australian cyclist Stuart O'Grady will definitely miss next month's world road championships in Madrid because of a feud with compatriot Robbie McEwen.

O'Grady and McEwen were in a strong 16-man open road squad that Cycling Australia (CA) announced on Thursday for the September 21-25 world championships.

But O'Grady is already out of the Vuelta Espana (Tour of Spain), which starts this week, with a thigh injury and he has decided to end his European racing season.

A CA spokesperson confirmed on Thursday night O'Grady would not ride at the world championships if McEwen was the lead rider for the team, regardless of whether O'Grady's leg injury had healed in time.

The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday revealed O'Grady would decline to ride at the world championships because of his feud with Madrid road race favourite McEwen.

The often-tense relationship between the two Australians frayed further at January's Tour Down Under in Adelaide, but O'Grady said on Wednesday the "cherry on the cake" was the sensational finish last month at stage three of the Tour de France.

O'Grady was furious when McEwen leaned his head into him as they sprinted for the line.

Race judges relegated McEwen to last for the stage, citing an irregular sprint.

O'Grady would normally be a first-choice selection for the world championships if fit, meaning CA officials were facing a tough task to have their strongest-possible men's team ride in Madrid.

CA also will most likely not have to deal with the McEwen-O'Grady feud ahead of next year's Commonwealth Games.

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