Injured Roulston out of Commonwealth Games road race

Delhi Commonwealth Games cycling medallist Hayden Roulston has withdrawn from the team for Glasgow after suffering an injury.

Roulston will return to Christchurch after being forced to abandon on stage five of the prestigious Criterium du Dauphine in France this week. He has suffered from a sore right foot and then developed an Achilles injury in left foot as a result of over-compensation. After being caught up by a crash on stage five, he abandoned the race.

The Trek Factory Racing rider said that while he is hopeful of recovering from the injury in the next few weeks, his lack of competitive racing would leave him ill-equipped to be fully competitive in Glasgow.

I cant be sure that I would be 100 per cent recovered although this is more niggling injury than serious, Roulston said.

Even if I came right quickly, I need international races to get in prime shape. A race like the Commonwealth Games is not something you can contemplate off training.

I would not go just to make up the numbers. Thats not fair on me or the others. If I cant be certain of being in shape to win the race, then I dont want to start.

Roulston said will return to Christchurch for the birth of his second child.

BikeNZ High Performance Director Mark Elliott said he is disappointed for Roulston, who he believes would have been a prime contender with the course in Glasgow suiting his attributes.

He said Roulston had shared some thoughts on potential replacements and BikeNZ would make a decision closer in the coming weeks, with a number of the riders all competing in Europe.

CAPTION: Hayden Roulston leads Jack Bauer at the national road championships in January.