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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Hesjedal shifts focus to Olympics
Ryder Hesjedal (CP)
TOMBLAINE, France -- Canada's Ryder Hesjedal is now focusing on the London Olympics after a left leg and hip injury forced him out of the Tour de France.
The Giro d'Italia champion, who was injured during the crash-marred sixth stage of the race, did not join his Garmin teammates at the start of Stage 7 and was flying home later Saturday. His Garmin-Sharp team said that Hesjedal was not able to pedal normally.
Hesjedal was among at least two dozen riders caught up in a nasty crash with 26 kilometres left to go on Friday. He entered the day in ninth place but lost more than 13 minutes and dropped to 108th overall.
"The problem is that the swelling is to a degree that he can't actually bend his leg, and you obviously need to bend your leg to race a bike," Garmin manager Jonathan Vaughters said.
In a statement released by his team, Hesjedal said he was disappointed to abandon the race, ruing the fact that he was in good form and looking forward to reaching the mountains.
"It's a huge disappointment."
The Victoria native will now try to recover quickly to be ready for the London Games, where he is expected to compete with the Canadian team.
-- The Associated Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 8, 2012 B13
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