Norwegian Cyclist Thor Hushovd Withdraws From Olympics

Personal information
Full name: Thor Hushovd
Nickname: The Bull (or Bear) from Grimstad God of Thunder
Date of birth: January 18, 1978 (1978-01-18) (age 30)
Country: Norway
Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight: 81 kg (180 lb/12.8 st)
Team information
Current team: Crédit Agricole
Discipline: Road
Role: Rider
Rider type: Sprinter
Professional team
2000–Crédit Agricole
Major Wins
Tour de France, 6 stages, points classification (2005)
Vuelta a España, 2 stages, points classification (2006)
Gent-Wevelgem (2006)
Norwegian cyclist Thor Hushovd had a very tough Tour de France that is why he has pulled out of the Olympics on Friday after struggling with illness.

"I wanted to compete in 2008 Beijing Olympic, but my team doctor told me I needed to rest. My health is more important."

Hushovd, who won the second stage in the Tour de France last month, took penicillin for 12 days during this year's race.

Hushovd added: "I'm going to rest and start training later to get in shape for the autumn races."

He will be replaced in the Norwegian team by Lars Petter Nordhaug.

Who Is Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd was born on January 18, 1978 in Grimstad, Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer, riding for Crédit Agricole. Hushovd is known for sprinting and time trialing. He is a former Norwegian time trial champion. He is the first Norwegian to wear the yellow jersey in Tour de France.

Before turning professional in 1998, Hushovd won the under-23 time trial world championship and the under-23 versions of Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Tours.

Hushovd is a member of Crédit Agricole. He was Norwegian time trial champion in 2004 and 2005 and road race champion in 2004. In 2006, Hushovd won seven UCI ProTour races and two stages of the Tour de France. Hushovd won the prologue in Strasbourg and wore the maillot jaune after the first day despite a cut arm. He continued with stitches and regained the maillot jaune after stage 2 with a third place finish. As the Tour started with Hushovd, it ended with his winning the last stage, beating Robbie McEwen in a sprint. In the 2006 Vuelta a España he won stage 6, wore the golden jersey for three stages and won the points classification.

At the 2008 Tour de France, Thor won stage two in a bunch sprint finish.

FYI - 2008 Beijing Olympic Sports