Rio Olympics: Australia’s cycling medal chance Simon Gerrans will miss Games injured
AUSTRALIA is poised to back Richie Porte as its outright leader for the road race at the Rio Olympics after Simon Gerrans was forced to withdraw due to a broken collarbone which ended his Tour de France.
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AUSTRALIA is poised to back Richie Porte as its outright leader for the road race at the Rio Olympics after Simon Gerrans was forced to withdraw due to a broken collarbone which also ended his Tour de France.
The 36-year-old Orica-BikeExchange rider was set for his third Games in Rio next month and was to be one of Australia’s main medal hopes for the 240km race.
But his high-speed crash during Stage 12 of the Tour de France on Thursday has forced him out of the Olympics and sent national selectors back to the drawing board.
Despite breaking his collarbone in last week’s crash he bravely rode to the finish but was forced to abandon the rest of the Tour.
Gerrans underwent surgery on the weekend and advised Olympic officials he would have to abandon plans to race in Brazil.
For now it leaves only BMC teammates Porte and Rohan Dennis, who are both still at the Tour de France, in the team for the men’s road race on August 6.
Australia can field up to four riders in the event and is most likely to throw all its support behind trying to get Porte on the podium as its outright leader.
National selectors have compiled a shortlist of riders to replace Gerrans and will spend coming days speaking with some of them at the Tour de France and Tour of Poland which are both still going.
Riders expected to be in the mix for consideration include Simon Clarke, Luke Durbridge, Mathew Hayman, Rory Sutherland and Adam Hansen.
The fourth rider is almost certain to be 21-year-old mountain biker Scott Bowden who is making his Games debut.
Bowden is likely to ride the men’s road race in a support role before turning his attention to the mountain bike race on the final day of competition.
Cycling Australia high performance director Kevin Tabotta would not speculate on how selection or race tactics may change given Gerrans’ withdrawal.
“We’re going to take the next few days to assess the athletes we have inside the shadow team shortlist, those athletes know who they are and (coach) Brad McGee will be in contact with them,” Tabotta said from the US.
“Those athletes are involved in the Tour de France and races like Poland so it’s important Brad has a conversation with them, where they’re at form-wise and attain data on their condition.
“With that we will have a selection meeting in coming days, there is no massive rush and a lot can happen in racing.
“But we would be looking to (the rider) in place by the end of the week and activate a late replacement under IOC policy.”
Gerrans said he had pulled out of the Olympic team with “enormous regret”.
“I am a proud Australian and as an athlete there is no greater honour than representing your country at the Olympic Games,” he said in a statement.
“Following my crash in stage 12 of the Tour de France resulting in a broken clavicle, with enormous regret I would like to inform you of my decision to withdraw from the Australian team for the Rio Olympic Games.
“My goal at the Olympic Games was to get the best result possible for Australia. With my current injury my preparation would be seriously jeopardised, and so too my performance at the Games.
“For Australia to have the best chance to achieve the best result possible, I feel I should be replaced by one of the riders in the squad.”
Gerrans had been targeting the Rio Olympics for some time and was part of a Cycling Australia delegation that went to Brazil to scout the course in May.
He is one of Australia’s greatest ever road cyclists and big-race performers having won one-day classics Liege Bastogne Liege and Milan-San Remo.
reece.homfray@news.com.au
Originally published as Rio Olympics: Australia’s cycling medal chance Simon Gerrans will miss Games injured
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