New Zealand rider Greg Henderson's dream to ride in the Tour de France will have to wait for at least another year.
The 2004 scratch race world champion has been enjoying a purple patch for his Columbia Highroad team but always knew his chances of riding in the the world's most celebrated bike race hinged on team tactics.
Unfortunately for the sprint specialist, the team opted for extra support in the mountains.
"I was on the cusp there for a while and it looked like I was going," Henderson said from Spain yesterday.
"[But] I just got informed [on Sunday] I haven't been chosen for the Tour de France, the main reason being they wanted more support in the mountains and they don't need another sprinter."
"[The mountains] are not what I'm paid to do.
"I'm in the team to set up the sprints for the fast finishers like [Mark] Cavendish."
While Henderson was disappointed, he races for a very strong team and was honoured to have made a shortlist of 14 riders, which he said was like making the bench for the All Blacks.
"I could ride for another team and have ridden the Tour de France three times by now.
"But I've got another five years of bike riding to go and I've got plenty of time."
