After going into the Sydney round of the track World Cup with high hopes, a chest infection has forced Magnus Backstedt to withdraw from the second round in Beijing.
"I was flying right up until the morning of the pursuit. When I woke up I just didn't feel 100 percent. During my ride, as soon as my heart rate hit anything close to my max I started coughing, which at full speed in a pursuit is not ideal.
"I was disappointed with my ride, but I then jumped straight up and rode the points race qualification and my legs just had nothing!"
The big Swede has spent the majority of the week in bed trying to recover in time to make the trip to Beijing, but has had to make the agonizing decision to return home instead of heading to China.
"I've been in touch with my coach every day and I cannot risk losing a month or more through this developing into something more sinister. My lungs are not in any condition to make a maximum effort like a 4km pursuit, I'm gutted,” he concluded.
