Cancellara drops Olympic track plans

Fabian Cancellara has decided to limit himself to the road race and individual time trial at the Beijing Olympic Games next summer, scratching plans to ride on the track as well. "It was too much. Track and road just can't be combined. My family and employer have priority," he told the SI press agency.

The Team CSC rider's main problem was with the qualification for the track events. He did not ride the recent World Cups in Sydney and Beijing. The next race is in Los Angeles, from January 18 to 20, which overlaps with the Team CSC training camp. That is followed by a meet in Copenhagen (February 15 to 17), and the World Championships in Manchester March 27 to 30, both of which fall in the middle of his preparations for the Spring Classics. Under UCI rules, a rider can qualify for the Olympic track events only through participation in the World Cup races and World Championships.

Cancellara had hoped to participate in the individual pursuit event.