British rider Peter Kennaugh has pulled out of Giro d'Italia three days before the race is due to get under way because of illness, his Sky team said on Tuesday. Kennaugh, who won his first title in March but was also forced out of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege because of illness, will be replaced by Australian sprinter Chris Sutton. "I'm feeling better now but I'm behind on where I wanted to be," he said. "The decision was taken along with the doctors and trainers. I'm training again and the aim is to become competitive again in a few weeks." Sutton, 29, won a stage of the Tour of Spain in 2011. The three-week race begins with three stages in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland before heading to Italy. Team Sky squad in full: Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR), Dario Cataldo (ITA), Philip Deignan (IRL), Bernhard Eisel (AUT), Sebastian Henao (COL), Salvatore Puccio (ITA), Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR), Chris Sutton (AUS), Ben Swift (GBR) Source: AFP