Ryder Hesjedal, the only Canadian to win a Grand Tour cycling race, has decided not to compete at the upcoming Rio Olympics.
"Been thinking long and hard about Rio and I’ve decided to take myself out of the selection," Hesjedal said Friday on his Twitter account. "Long season ahead. Best of luck Team Canada!!"
Hesjedal is one of Canada’s most decorated cyclists, winning the Giro d’Italia in 2012. However, he had to pull out of this year’s Giro due to illness.
The 35-year-old recently told The Canadian Press that he was going to wait until after the Giro before making a decision on the Tour de France and the Olympics.
He said he does plan to compete in several other events this year, including the Quebec City-Montreal Grand Prix races, the Tour of Alberta and his hometown race, Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour of Victoria.
Hesjedal made his third consecutive Olympic appearance at the 2012 London Games, finishing 28th in the individual time trial and 63rd in the road race.
