The Credit Agricole sponsored Norwegian has decided to drop the Giro d’Italia from his plans this year. His early abandonment of the 2007 Giro after stage 12 last year has made him rethink his former plans about the race. Hushovd didn’t win a single stage in the 2007 Giro and left for home early in a disappointed state.

2008 is an Olympic year and Hushovd is thinking about going to Beijing in August. “I still don’t know if I’ll ride the Olympic road race, but the Worlds are already included in my programme,” said Hushovd. “I really want to do better in 2008 than I did in last year.” Hushovd was victorious in only one event in 2007, that was the 4th stage of the Tour de France.