Oakland, CA - Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis rider Hayden Roulston has announced his retirement due to a serious heart condition.

"This is the worst news anyone could ever receive, being told they can't do something they love. Especially me, this is all I know," Roulston told One News in New Zealand. "All I wanted to do was go through to Beijing (2008 Olympics) 100 percent and now I can't do it. It's a huge shock."

The 24-year-old from Ashburton, New Zealand, was diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia (ARVD), a rare form of heart disease in which the muscle of the right ventricle is replaced by fat and/or fibrous tissue. The condition causes the right ventricle of the heart to become dilated and lose the ability to contract properly.

"ARVD reduces the ability of the heart to pump blood, can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, and is one of the leading causes of abnormal rhythms and sudden death in young athletes," said Health Net Presented by Maxxis team physician Dr. Michael Roshon. "The bottom line is that this is a devastating diagnosis for anyone, but for an athlete it is an end to their career.

"The underlying cause of ARVD is not fully understood," Dr. Roshon continued. "In some cases there is a genetic cause, while in others it is related to an infection of the heart muscle." The cause of Roulston's condition is as yet unknown.

Roulston was well on his way to a big year through the first three months of this season, winning the overall title - as well as six stages combined - of both the Tour de Vineyards and the Tour of Wellington in his native New Zealand. He followed those wins with a strong ride at the Amgen Tour of California and a win at the McLane Pacific Foothills Road Race the opening weekend of NRC racing in Merced, CA.

Following McLane, he traveled to Melbourne, Australia for the Commonwealth Games, where he earned a silver medal in points race. Shortly after the Commonwealth Games, he came down with a viral infection that had kept him from racing the remainder of this season.

"Hayden was, without question, one of the strongest riders on the team at the beginning of the year," Health Net Presented by Maxxis directeur sportif Jeff Corbett said. "He has a lot of talent, and he was developing into a great rider. Even in the short time he was able to ride with the team, he had a significant impact in those races. We missed his presence at Georgia, as well as during our European trip. It's a shame that such a promising career is being cut short by this serious condition."