Four days after he dominated Paris-Roubaix and took his second consecutive Classic victory, Fabian Cancellara has deciding against competing in this Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race. The big Swiss rider was tipped for the win by his Saxo Bank boss Bjarne Riis, who won the race in 1997, but is feeling mentally fatigued and will take a break from racing.
“After a fabulous spring season with historically beautiful victories in E3 Prijs Vlaanderen – Harelbeke, Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix, Fabian Cancellara will not be in the Team Saxo Bank line-up for the Amstel Gold Race,” said his team in a statement released this morning. “[He] will now take a well deserved break before his build-up for the Tour de France.”
Cancellara has been competing at a high level since the Tour of Oman, where he won the overall classification, and while he is undoubtedly in great physical condition, he wants to call a halt for now.
”I have put in a 100% effort in order to achieve my memorable victories this spring,” said Cancellara. “I now feel I can't give myself 100% in another long Classic and feeling this way, it makes no sense competing at all. I am simply tired.”
Cancellara has said that one of his big career goals is to win all five Monuments, namely the three oldest Classics. He’s already taken Milan San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and two editions of Paris-Roubaix; that leaves Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Lombardy.
However he’ll have to wait until a later date before trying to land the victory in Liège, as he will take a month’s break from all competition. Team Saxo Bank has confirmed that his next race will be the Tour of California, which begins on May 16th.
Cancellara will then aim to build strong form for the Tour de France, where he has previously won stages and worn the yellow jersey.