Stage winner Simon Gerrans (Cervelo) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Australia’s Simon Gerrans will miss this year’s Tour de France after failing to be selected by Cervélo TestTeam officials ahead of the Grand Tour. Gerrans was one of Cervélo’s top performers at last month’s Giro d’Italia, where he added a second career Grand Tour stage win on Stage 15 in Prato Nevoso.
“Well I just got a call from my sport director,” wrote Gerrans on his Twitter. “I'm still digesting the news I didn't make the tour team. I'm pretty disappointed.”
Gerrans shared a bottle of wine with Team Columbia-Highroad rival Mark Renshaw after hearing the news. The sprinter was equally shocked at Gerrans snub.
“What is wrong with the world these days,” wrote Renshaw. “My best mate Simon Gerrans just found out he is staying at home this July = no tour!”
Cervélo is yet to make an announcement on who has made its final cut for the Tour team, which will almost certainly be led by defending champion Carlos Sastre.
Gerrans had spent the previous day in team time trial training with his Cervélo team-mates at Buochs Airport in Switzerland. Gerrans had just returned from a stint in Aspen, United States of America, where he had been training with Astana riders Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer.
Gerrans has enjoyed a strong opening to his 2009 season, with top 10 finishes at Amstel Gold Race, Waalse Pijl and Liège-Bastogne-Liège in the lead up to his Giro Stage 14 win in Bologna.
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Only three other Australian riders have achieved stage victories in both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia – Robbie McEwen, Phil Anderson and Bradley McGee.
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