Cycling: New Zealand's two-time Olympic medallist retires

Hayden Roulston, seen winning his last New Zealand road title in 2014, will ride in the Tour of Southland starting next weekend. Photo / Pete Bruggeman.

New Zealand's most successful Olympic track cyclist and highly accomplished professional rider, Hayden Roulston, will draw the curtain on his career this week.

Roulston, a double Olympic medallist, two-time Olympian and World Tour professional for more than a decade, will compete for the final time in the Tour of Southland that starts this weekend.

"The time is right and I feel ready. I've accomplished as much as I possibly can in this sport and I can hold my head high," said Roulston.

"I made it to the top of road cycling and ridden in teams with the best in the sport. I won two medals at the Olympics, went back to the top of road racing and then gave up everything to have a crack at the Olympics after eight years away.

"I am very proud of everything that I've accomplished in this sport. Now it is time to give back to my family and move on to the next stage of my life."

Roulston was born in Ashburton where he followed in his father's footsteps into the sport. At 21 he ventured to Europe to join the high profile Cofidis team in 2002, then on to the Discovery Channel team in 2004. He moved to the HealthNet team in USA in 2006, which was cut short when a medical examination revealed an irregular heartbeat and he was advised to stop riding immediately.

After seeking treatment back in New Zealand, and going down the unconventional Reiki route, he returned to the sport to win his first New Zealand road championship title and later in the year his first Tour of Southland title.

Roulston became the only New Zealand cyclist to win two medals at the same Olympics with silver to Bradley Wiggins in the individual pursuit and bronze in the team pursuit. His performances led to renewed interest from professional teams, returning to the World Tour on the road with the Cervelo Test Team in 2009, then the famed HTC HighRoad team and finished his professional career with Trek Factory Team.

In his career Roulston enjoyed six professional wins, rode in four grand tours and 19 classics where he became the key support rider for multi-world champion Fabian Cancellara.

Roulston vowed he would complete his career at the Olympics, dedicating himself to the track for 12 months after an eight year absence, and winning a place in the Rio team.
His palmares in the sport is outstanding with two Olympic medals, one at the world championships, three at three different Commonwealth Games, Four Tours of Southland and four New Zealand road championships.

"Our sport in general and Cycling New Zealand in particular is indebted to Hayden. His Olympic success was the spark that helped ignite our high performance programme and since that time he has remained a hugely influential figure for our young riders," said Cycling New Zealand performance director, Mark Elliott.

"His successes on the track and the road have been outstanding. But for me what sets Roly aside has been his resilience and determination to fight back from his cardiac condition and return to the track after eight years away to make the team for Rio.

"I am sure he will continue to play a role in the sport and be a positive influence as much off the bike as he has been on it."

Roulston said he has enjoyed unwavering support from family, friends, coaches, professional teams, riders and Cycling New Zealand over his 15 years as a professional.

"It's impossible to thank everyone who has helped me on this journey from the time Dad taught me to ride a bike. I am going to enjoy this week and this event which is where my career started. It will be nice being back to finish down there.

"It is going to be special on that final stage and I'm guessing pretty emotional too."

The 35 year old will ride for the Placemakers team in the 60th anniversary Tour of Southland which begins this Sunday.