Dutch rider Thomas Dekker has pulled himself off of the Olympic team of the Netherlands. The Rabobank rider told coach Egon van Kessel that he was not in good enough shape to perform well in Beijing. Dekker was to have ridden both the road race and the individual time trial. "Thomas called me," Van Kessel told Sporza.be. "He said he is not in shape and has no chance to medal."
Dekker will be replaced in the time trial by Robert Gesink, who was already scheduled to compete in the road race. Niki Terpstra will take Dekker's spot in the road race, with Stef Clement filling out the team.
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