The rigours of a massive season have ruled Julian Dean out of the reckoning for the Commonwealth Games.
Dean has informed selectors today that he wants to withdraw from consideration for the Games after his team Garmin Transitions have indicated they want him to ride the upcoming Vuelta a España this month.
The 35 year old was the only rider to complete all three grand tours last year – the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta.
"I know from experience that it is not realistic to carry on the form for much more than two weeks after a Grand Tour such as the Tour of Spain (Vuelta a España), particularly at the end of a very long season.” Dean said.
“And although I’m confident that I’ll be in good form for the World Championships, I'm not sure if I'd be able to carry that form through to Delhi.
“Rather than risk not being at my best for Delhi, it's better that I withdraw now and allow a promising young rider the opportunity to gain the experience.”
Dean said he had initially looked forward to competing in Delhi, which would have been his first Commonwealth Games since Victoria in 1994 but changed his mind after talks with his team trainer.
“We have a number of pretty promising younger riders on the world stage now. This will give them a real opportunity which was something I had when I was young which helped me springboard my career.”
Another rider out of consideration is Te Awamutu’s Tim Gudsell, who has a horror run of injuries continue with a broken collarbone suffered in the open stage of the Tour of Poland at the weekend.
Gudsell, who competes for pro tour team Francaise de Jeux, has had significant time off his bike in the last two years after injuries suffered in the Tour Downunder and then this year in the Paris-Roubaix. The Tour of Poland signalled his return to competitive cycling again.
The team for the Commonwealth Games is scheduled to be named on Thursday by the NZOC.
