No title defence for Beijing champion as fractured metacarpal prevents proper braking
Euskaltel-Euskadi’s Samuel Sánchez will not defend his Olympic road race title on July 28th, the Spanish rider has confirmed. The 34-year-old, who won the gold medal in Beijing, China, four years ago, fractured the third metacarpal in his left hand in a crash in the eighth stage of the Tour de France on July 8th, and - despite a return to training this week - has not recovered sufficiently to be able to take part in the London race.
“It was my most painful decision for some time,” said Sánchez in a statement through his team. “I am the Olympic champion and I wanted to defend the medal that changed my life. Since that victory, I have a street named after me, a lifestyle statue that reflects the moment I bit the medal… It was a significant victory for four years, I have a worn a jersey that identified my Olympic gold.
“The new Olympics are coming up and I can’t defend my title on the road, but that’s cycling,” he continued. “The important thing is to be strong and to keep going.”
A fracture in his left hand means that Sánchez is unable to use his front brake with sufficient force to be able to ride in close proximity of other riders. He feels that it is best for his own safety - as well as those around him - that he does not ride in London.
“I am a little sad, but I have to assume that there is no alternative,” he said. “I have been forced to stop and recover but, as you say, the most important thing is your health. Competing in this state, where I might have difficulty braking, would be a danger to myself and to my teammates. I must be responsible and not endanger anyone, and continue working on my recovery.
“There is still a lot of a lot of the season to come, with some big targets,” he added. “We have to keep adding WorldTour points, there are the Worlds… I’m looking ahead with optimism.
“There are still a lot of challenges ahead, and the first thing to do is to recover fully to address them in good tradition and motivation.”
Having withdrawn from Spain’s Olympic team, Sánchez offered his thanks to those that have helped him try to recover in time over the past eleven days.
"Thanks to all the professionals who have helped in this process of recovery,” he said. “IMQ services, the support of the team with Miguel Madariaga at its head, the confidence of the Olympic Committee and the Federation for the time they gave me to see if I could make it.
“I am very grateful to everybody and hopefully give them joy in the very near future,” he added. “And of course, all the fans. I have received many messages of support and I have to see the situation differently.
“I am very grateful and such displays of affection will be my gold medal in 2012.”