Frederic Guesdon is keen to ride the Paris-Roubaix before dropping the curtain on his career
Frederic Guesdon of Team FDJ-BigMat fractured his hip at the Santos Tour Down Under during the opening stage of the race. The cyclist was planning to end his career on April 8th after the Paris-Roubaix but the crash has changed the equation.
However, the 40-year-old is still keen to stick to his plans and will ride his favourite Paris-Roubaix before concluding his career.
Frederic started riding professionally in 1995 and his victory at the Paris-Roubaix 1997 made him famous across the cycling world.
He also won the Paris-Tours in 1996 and is keen to make it his third victory at the event.
The cyclist has made a maximum number of nine Grand Tour appearances, with seven Tour de France, one Giro d’ Italia and one Vuelta a Espana participation to his credit.
The cyclist is considered as a Classics specialist and his main job during the stage races was to help the team leaders.
He has represented a total number of four teams in his career, namely Le Groupement (1995), Polti (1996), Francaise des Jeux (1997) and then he finally joined Team FDJ-BigMat.
The cyclist has returned back to his home in Brittany and doctors have recommended him one month’s bed rest.
He told Ouest France, “The doctor reckons that the fracture of the hip is a good one and that I should be able to get back”.
“I have to rest for a month and then I’m going to start training again straightaway. There’ll be five or six weeks left from there to the date I’ve set for the end of my career,” Guesdon continued.
On commenting about his plans to ride the Paris-Roubaix, he briefed, “I really want to finish at Roubaix, it’s the race where I emerged, and one where I’ve taken so much pleasure for over fifteen years”.
Guesdon broke his collarbone during the Volta ao Algarve 2009 but made a comeback for the cobbled classics. He also participated at the Tour de France and the Paris-Roubaix after the 2009 crash.
Doctors have suggested one month rest for the cyclist before he can continue to ride back at the race.
Frederic is positive to finish his professional career on April 8th at the Paris Roubaix and it will be interesting to see if he can repeat his previous performance at the event.
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