MADRID (Reuters) -- Spanish riders Rafael Casero, Alberto Benito and Antonio Tauler of the new 3 Molinos Resort team were declared unfit to compete in the Tour of Valencia on Tuesday following blood tests carried out by the UCI.

Test are routinely carried out by medical staff from world cycling's governing body to measure hematocrit levels in the blood of competing riders.

Levels that exceed the permitted maximum are seen as an indication, but not proof, that illegal blood-boosting may have taken place and the riders are not allowed to compete.

The Tour of Valencia started in Calpe on Tuesday and finishes in Valencia on Saturday. Italian sprint specialist Alessandro Petacchi will be defending his title in the race.