Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervélo) quit the Tour of California during today’s fifth stage, between Seaside and Paso Robles, citing illness. The World champion, who won a stage of the race in 2009, has been in the United States in search of his first victory for the Argyle team; he finished seventh into Sacramento on Monday and third into Modesto on Tuesday.
After being in the break on yesterday’s stage to the steep uphill finish on Sierra Road, Hushovd finished 24’39” behind stage winner Chris Horner (RadioShack).
"I haven't been feeling well since I arrived and today I just felt empty,” he said in a statement via the Garmin-Cervélo team. “I couldn't continue. I'm very disappointed to leave the team and the race. I would have liked to finish because the last day was a goal for me. I wish the team luck. I'm proud of what we have done here so far."
Hushovd is still looking for his first win in the rainbow jersey, with the closest he’s come so far being his third place in Tuesday’s third stage into Modesto. His season began in the Tour of Oman, where his best performance was sixth on the sixth stage; following an average Tirreno-Adriatico though, his results in the classics were disappointing.
He failed to feature in the Ronde van Vlaanderen, preferring to peak the next weekend in Paris-Roubaix; he was forced to put his personal ambition aside in the race that he most wanted to win this year though, as teammate Johan Vansummeren rode away to victory.
The next race on the World champion’s calendar will be next month’s Tour de Suisse, where he will hope to recover his form in time for the Norwegian championships and the Tour de France.