Australian cyclist pulls out of Games

Australian cyclist Richie Porte was forced to pullout from the Commonwealth Games as his Saxo Bank team denied him clearance to compete in the Oct 3-14 Games.

Australian cyclist Richie Porte on Thursday was forced to pullout from the Commonwealth Games as his Saxo Bank team denied him clearance to compete in the Oct 3-14 Games in New Delhi.

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Porte joins compatriots champion swimmer Stephanie Rice and tennis players Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur in giving the Oct 3-14 Games a miss.

The news emerged on the day when Porte moved up to second in the Tour of Britain.

Team orders required the 25-year-old to ride the spring classics in Italy which coincide with the Games fixture.

"Obviously it is disappointing not to ride the Commonwealth Games after being selected, but I will race the Giro Lombardia and Piermonte in support of Andy Schleck," Porte was quoted saying by The Age. The news came as a disappointment for Cycling Australia (CA), which saw Porte as a medal prospect. But CA national performance director Shayne Bannan had mixed feelings on his exit.

New Delhi: The Games Organising Committee on Thursday announced that it will be organising three separate sporting events besides the major disciplines during the Games. Though the dates for the three events - Cyclothon, Marathon and Walkathon - are yet to be finalised, an official in the OC said, "We have set tentative dates and some events will be conducted on October 9, 10, 13 and 14."