September 18, 2013 (Ottawa, ON) – Three riders will represent Canada in the elite men’s events at the 2013 Road World Championships in Italy, Cycling Canada announced today.
Svein Tuft of Langley, BC (Orica-GreenEDGE) will compete in the individual time trial. Tuft won silver in this event in 2008. Christian Meier of Langley, BC (Orica-GreenEDGE) and François Parisien of Bromont, QC (Argos-Shimano), will contest the road race.
Although Canada qualified for three riders for the men’s road race, Cycling Canada opted to send only two riders. Ryder Hesjedal, who finished third in the Grand Prix cycliste de Montreal last Sunday, declined his selection and it was deemed that there were no other athletes available who would be competitive in this event.
“This event is an opportunity to showcase competitiveness and performance in favour of development,” said Cycling Canada High Performance Director Jacques Landry. “We have to field a competitive team for this prestigious and high-calibre event. In the elite category for road cycling, Canada will no longer use World Championships as a development tool as many other races serve that purpose.”
The 2013 Road World Championships begin on September 22 in Florence, Italy. The 57-km elite men’s time trial is on September 25 and the 268-km elite men’s road race is on September 29.
Team Canada – Elite Men – 2013 Road World Championships
– Svein Tuft (36 – Langley, BC) [Individual Time Trial]
– Christian Meier (28 – Langley, BC) [Road Race]
– François Parisien (31 – Bromont, QC) [Road Race]
September 19th, 2013 at 3:10 am
Okay, what is Ryder afraid of, or what is changing in his regimen, to not go to the World Championship?
Riders in the past that did that (Lance Armstrong, Tylor Hamilton, and their ilk) were always suspect.
When something does not make sense it is suspect. Ryder tell us. I hope it has nothing to do with you know what.
September 19th, 2013 at 3:13 am
Prediction. Gesink is primed to win Worlds.