October 3, 2002 -Ryder Hesjedal is returning to Canada a little earlier than expected. Due to injuries suffered following a crash last week at the Tour of Seine et Marne, Hesjedal is going to miss the Road World Championships. He is returning to Canada today.

Hesjedal, 21, from Victoria, BC, was pencilled in to ride in the Espoir Time Trial event in Zolder. He was also in contention for one of the three starter positions for the Espoir Road Race. Hesjedal has enjoyed some success on the road following the Mountain Bike World Championships. He had been riding with Rabobank trade team and he had won the Volta Catalunya de l'Avenir in Spain. He was in a lead group at Tour de Seine et Marne when he went down. He is suffering from sore ribs, back and wrist as well as some bad scrapes. National Team Coach Jacques Landry will make the final decisions on the Espoir selections following the completion of the Paris-Tours Espoir race on Sunday in France.