18 July,2016 08:29 AM IST | | AFP
Australia's Olympic hopes were dented yesterday as road cyclist Simon Gerrans and and tennis coach Lleyton Hewitt withdrew from the 2016 Rio Games
Sydney: Australia's Olympic hopes were dented yesterday as road cyclist Simon Gerrans and and tennis coach Lleyton Hewitt withdrew from the 2016 Rio Games.
Lleyton Hewitt. Pic/AFP
Gerrans, 36, was due to ride in his third Games, but was forced to quit the Tour de France on Thursday after breaking his collarbone in a crash. "With my current injury my Olympics preparation would be jeopardised, and so too my performance at the Games," said Gerrans.
"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." Cycling Australia will select a replacement rider later this week, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said.
Also representing Australia's men road cycling team are London Games' track silver medallist Rohan Dennis and Richie Porte, a regular Grand Tour contender.
No explanation was given but the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Hewitt's withdrawal was due to "personal reasons".
