Ryder Hesjedal to miss Tour de France

On Saturday, one week from the start of the Tour de France in Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, Canadian Ryder Hesjedal tweeted “Recovery time! France in July wasn’t in the cards” and a link to an Instagram photo of him relaxing on a tropical beach.

Recovery time! France in July wasn't in the cards. https://t.co/pt4ECUOuiV

— Ryder Hesjedal (@ryder_hesjedal) June 25, 2016

Hesjedal was slated to share Trek-Segafredo’s GC duties with Dutchman Bauke Mollema. Instead the 2012 Giro d’Italia winner will miss what would have been his ninth Tour.

Trek-Segafredo hasn’t released its full roster yet; the squad is letting fans do so gradually on Twitter this weekend.

No specific reason was given for Ryder’s nonparticipation other than rest. Hesjedal had to drop out of May’s Giro on Stage 14 because of illness. He returned to action in the Critérium du Dauphiné, rising as high as 11th with two top-20 finishes in the first three days before coming in 78th.

Hesjedal has placed in the Tour de France top-20 twice, with 7th in 2010 his high-water mark. Andy Schleck holds the title for that Tour, Alberto Contador having had his win revoked after a doping violation.

The Canadian Trek-Segafredo rider is still scheduled for the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec et Montréal. Hesjedal has been third twice in Montréal.