Cycling: Third Kiwi rider withdraws from Glasgow

Both Hayden Roulston and George Bennett have pulled out of the Glasgow Games. Photo / Bruce Wilson

New Zealand could struggle to field a competitive cycling road race team at next month's Commonwealth Games.

George Bennett is the third rider to withdraw from the Games, with a recent lung infection and slow recovery from a crash in the Tour of California causing him to pull out.

Bennett said he won't recover fast enough in time to head to Glasgow.

"If you're going to ride in the Commonwealth Games and pull on the silver fern, you need to be in the best shape you and do the jersey proud, and I just couldn't get myself in a position to do that."

Only Jesse Sergent remains a certain prospect, with Greg Henderson and Jack Bauer's availability leaning on their Tour de France commitments.

Bennett said he has to sacrifice the big events now to try and be fit for the Tour of Spain in August.

"Still a long season you know it's only June and you can push on and keep trying to fight and fight and do nothing well or you can sort-of take stock, recover healthy mentally refresh and make some new goals."

Bennett said he couldn't do New Zealand proud if he raced in Glasgow.

Hayden Roulston and James Oram are also unavailable.