September 29, 2017 – Canadian WorldTour rider Hugo Houle (AG2R la Mondiale) is hanging up his bike for the 2017 season as he announced on social media. “Finally, I will not participate in the Omloop Eurometropool this weekend with AG2R La Mondiale,” wrote Houle on Facebook yesterday.

“I am still having pain in my arm after my fall at La Vuelta, I went for X-rays that detected a fracture of my radius. The fracture is a nice one and it has already started to heal. However, I have to give myself a full 3 weeks rest. ”

This is Houle’s final season with AG2R la Mondiale, since 2013 – at least for the next two years. As we announced in early September, he’ll be riding for Kazakh-registered Astana in 2018 and 2019. He has been riding for French-based AG2R la Mondiale since 2013.

Houle, who just turned 27, was one of three Canadian men to ride in the 2016 Rio Olympics road race; he was also the 2015 Canadian ITT champion. Fellow Quebecer, Antoine Duchesne, who just signed with FDJ for 2018, is Houle’s roommate in France.

We wish Houle a speedy recovery, relaxing off-season, and all the best with Astana.

Houle Signs with Astana here.