The Spanish Cycling Federation says Olympic road race champion Samuel Sanchez will miss the London Games because of injuries sustained at the Tour de France.
"It was my most painful decision for some time," said Sánchez in a statement through his team. "I am the Olympic champion and I wanted to defend the medal that changed my life. Since that victory, I have a street named after me, a lifestyle statue that reflects the moment I bit the medal... It was a significant victory for four years, I have a worn a jersey that identified my Olympic gold.
"The new Olympics are coming up and I can't defend my title on the road, but that's cycling," he continued. "The important thing is to be strong and to keep going."
The 34-year-old, who won the gold medal in Beijing, China, four years ago, fractured the third metacarpal in his left hand in a crash in the eighth stage of the Tour de France on July 8th, and - despite a return to training this week - has not recovered sufficiently to be able to take part in the London race.
"Although he is in good physical shape, he is still suffering a certain amount of pain in his hand and shoulder," Spanish team coach Jose Luis De Santos said. "He was struggling to hold the handlebars and to change gears which could have been dangerous in a race. For this we have decided he won't go to London."
After a test run on Thursday, De Santos said he had discussed the matter with Sanchez and taken the decision.
"(I want to) thank Samuel for the great effort he has put in to try and be at the Games and in a race as important to him as defending champion as it is for everyone else," De Santos said. "He has shown a great deal of pride in a difficult situation and I hope he can recover as soon as possible."
Having withdrawn from Spain's Olympic team, Sanchez offered his thanks to those that have helped him try to recover in time over the past 11 days.
"Thanks to all the professionals who have helped in this process of recovery," he said. "IMQ services, the support of the team with Miguel Madariaga at its head, the confidence of the Olympic Committee and the Federation for the time they gave me to see if I could make it.
"I am very grateful to everybody and hopefully give them joy in the very near future," he added. "And of course, all the fans. I have received many messages of support and I have to see the situation differently.
"I am very grateful and such displays of affection will be my gold medal in 2012."
