Ryder Hesjedal explains why he won’t race in Rio

He wants the younger generation of Canadian athletes to build Olympic experience

Philippe Tremblay June 7, 2016

On June 3, Hesjedal announced via his Twitter that he would not compete in his fourth Olympic games. The Victoria native has now elaborated on the reasoning behind the decision in a statement. The 35-year-old remains the only Canadian to win a grand tour, the 2012 Giro d’Italia, but on a one-year contract with Trek-Segrafedo he has already begun to openly muse about his retirement.

“Obviously I didn’t decide about this overnight,” said Hesjedal in a statement to the Canadian Press. “The Olympic values mean a lot to me and I would have loved to represent my country, but in the end I have to look at the bigger picture.”

Hesjedal represented Canada at the 2012 London Olympics in the road race finishing 63rd and time trial finishing in 28th. The performance followed his win earlier that year at the Giro d’Italia. In Beijing 2008, he also competed in both road events: finishing 15th in the TT and 55th on the road. In Athens 2004, the former mountain biker did not finish the men’s cross country race.

“First of all, the season is still long and I don’t want to jeopardize my potential race calendar with Trek-Segafredo. Health and safety come first in that respect,” Hesjedal explained. “Secondly, I find it truly important that the younger generation of talented Canadian riders get their chance to build up Olympic experience from which they will benefit in the future.”

Mike Woods (Cannondale Pro Cycling) is racing his first season in the WorldTour and is well suited to the climbs that feature on the Rio course while Hugo Houle (Ag2R-La Mondial) raced the Giro d’Italia as preparation for the Olympics where he hopes to target the time trial. Another Canadian who could feature on the roster is Antoine Duchesne (Direct Energie) who is keen to play a supporting role for Canada’s leader. Cycling Canada has three roster spots to fill in the men’s road race and one in the time trial.

Hesjedal is currently racing the Critérium du Dauphiné and sits 11th overall. In May, he dropped out of the Giro d’Italia after falling ill.

Following the second stage of the race he said, “I am still trying to find the rhythm in getting back into the racing. It was not easy out there, but I was able to stay in the front and be in the final and give Bauke [Mollema] support. I will see how far I can go in the race before it does not really make sense to go deep, deep, but right now it’s needed, so I will continue to suffer some more.”

Hesjedal will race the WorldTour Grand Prix Cyclist de Quebec and Montreal in September, the Tour of Alberta and his hometown race the Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour de Victoria.