After the Tour de France starts, Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) would like to wear the yellow jersey for a few days. He has never worn the maillot jaune during his career, but stage 1 is flat, so maybe he will be lucky this time.

“I’d like to wear the yellow jersey after the first stage in Corsica. It’s the only one of the three grand tours where I haven’t worn the leader’s jersey, so I’d like to do that,” Cavendish told Sporza.

Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) and André Greipel (Lotto Belisol) will also try to win that stage. The two riders finished ahead of Cavendish in bunch sprints at the Ster ZLM Toer last week. But that does not mean much as the Dutch race was Cavendish’s first since completing the Giro d’Italia three weeks ago.

“I don’t fear anybody. It’s irrelevant who’s there. There are some strong guys but if you’re looking at the other guys, you’re not looking at the goal, which is crossing the finish line first,” Cavendish said.

Cavendish has won twelve races so far in 2013. He seems happy with his switch from Sky to Omega Pharma-QuickStep during the off-season.

“For me the atmosphere in the team is everything. I’m really an emotional guy and my performance does count a lot on how I’m feeling,” Cavendish said."I’m super happy at Omega Pharma-QuickStep. I think I’ve won the most races out of any rider and they’ve been big races. We had an incredibly successful Giro d’Italia, we had an incredible group there and we’re just pushing on to the Tour de France now.”

The 2013 Tour de Slovénie started yesterday. Slovenia has always been one of my dream countries. I wanted to go there, and sometimes I feel that Slovenia would be a perfect country, with both winter and summer, and positioned perfectly in Europe. A few years ago, maybe two or three, I went there. Me and my ex partner quarreled all the time, as usual. But I really liked Slovenia, and especially Ptuj where we spent most of the time.

The last day, when we were in Ljubljana, we checked out the prologue of Tour de Slovénie.

It was a really cozy, small race, where it was possible to get good contact with the riders if you dared (I'm too shy to talk to people).

What I remember most was not the race though, but that I stepped on a screw or something. For two days, I could not wear shoes. I had to walk barefoot. And it hurted, a lot. Beware of screws!

This year, it seems unbelievable that I will go to see a cycling event, but maybe next year. I hope so.

Tonight some of the girls I know will ride Vätternrundan, a 300 km recreational ride around Lake Vättern in Sweden. Good luck to you all.

Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cycling) was forced to abandon the Tour de Suisse on Thursday, after a crash. Now, he has found out that he fractured the pelvis.

So sad. The rider has truly had his best season in some time.

"The pace was very strong in the bunch,” said Haussler. "We made ten kilometers. On a long straight, there was a slowdown in the peloton and we fell on each other like dominoes."

Haussler was taken to hospital with extensive bruises and wounds. Later x-rays revealed that the 29-year-old had a small fracture to the left side of his pelvis.

"Heinrich Haussler suffered bruises and multiple wounds on the left side of the body, a fractured pelvis and a small fracture of the left hip. The rider will remain hospitalized a day or two before returning to his home. His comeback is not envisaged before the fall," IAM Cycling team doctor Jacques Ménétrey said.

Last month, Haussler claimed his first victory since 2011 as he won the final stage of Bayern Rundfahrt.

Happy news for Italian Pro Continental squad Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela. The team manager Gianni Savio announced today that the Italian toy manufacturer Androni Giocattoli has renewed its title sponsorship for 2014.

"Mario Androni is a gentleman of the old school who has an up-to-date outlook and I am really pleased to have him as the main sponsor of our team for the seventh year consecutively," said Savio. "Starting from 2008 up to the present, together, we have achieved important successes which have raised enthusiasm in lots of fans who have always supported us with great passion and we are going to organize a very competitive team also in 2014.

"Besides the riders we already have under contract, among whom sprinter Mattia Gavazzi, climber Diego Rosa - a revelation at the Giro d'Italia - and two young talents, U23 Italian National Andrea Zordan and the 20-year-old Venezuelan Yonder Godoy, we are going to confirm and engage more athletes, after signing the contracts with the various sponsors, following our thirty-year management policy."
So far this season, the team has taken four victories : two by sprinter Mattia Gavazzi (Giro della Toscana and stage 7 at the Tour de San Luis), plus one each by Fabio Felline (Settimana Coppi e Bartali stage 1a) and Alessandro Malaguti (Route Adélie de Vitré).

Andy Schleck (RadioShack Leopard) has not really seemed to have a great season so far. Well, things have not been perfect this last year.

Currently, he is riding the Tour de Suisse.

Normally, Schleck does not perform well at the event in the lead up to the Tour de France. But, the 28-year-old thinks that he can show some spark in one of the four stages remaining. Schleck is over 21 minutes down on the general classification lead of Mathias Frank (BMC).

"I had to chase back for a few kilometers but was able to come back and just sit in the wheels," Schleck said. "I had a moment where I thought maybe the uphill sprint could be for me, but that wasn't the case. It's still a sprint even when it's uphill for only 200 meters and I'm not a sprinter."

Last season, was halted because of a pelvic fracture. So far this season, Schleck has already completed more race days than that of in 2012. This season has not been easy though, but he seems optimistic.

"But I am feeling better and better every day," he said. "We will try something in the upcoming stages in the mountains."

Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) was forced to abandon the Tour de Suisse after a crash at stage 5. Lotto Belisol's Jens Debusschere fractured a bone in his wrist.

Visconti was placed fourth overall heading into Wednesday's stage, but then crashed. According to his team, Visconti crashed at high speed and suffered multiple abrasions. He was taken to hospital for further treatment. Several stitches was needed to his left thigh.

He will go back to Italy today to continue his recovery.

Jens Debusschere crashed with around 30km remaining in the stage. Debusschere completed the stage, but at hospital, it was revealed that he had suffered a fractured ulna.

"There is nothing to be done, crashes happen when you are a cyclist," the Belgian said. "I was riding in the middle of the peloton when a signal man indicated that we had to swerve. Some riders hit the brakes and then we came together. I could not move out.

"I immediately felt that something wasn't right but I decided to ride on because the damage might not be that bad."

Debusschere will now have some days of rest, before resuming training on the rollers.

Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) won stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse from Buochs to Leuggern today.

"I'm very happy with this victory," said Kristoff. "It's the fifth win of my 2013, I'm living a great season. I also know today it's the Independence Day in Russia: I'm happy I gave them another reason to celebrate."

Kristoff outsprinted Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and Arnaud Demare (FDJ).

"Once again I have to thank my teammates: they did a great job, and I was in the best position in order to win. This performance confirms that I'm a good way toward my top form," Kristoff said.

"Obviously, my goal is to take part in the Tour de France at my best, but I still want to put in some other good performance here in Switzerland."

Ag2r-La Mondiale has decided to sack Sylvain Georges, after his positive test for the stimulant heptaminol during the Giro d’Italia. Georges still awaits sanction from the French Cycling Federation.

“He’s no longer part of our team,” Ag2r manager Vincent Lavenu told AFP. “We have strict internal rules and there was a definite breach.”

Sylvain Georges tested positive for heptaminol after stage 7 of the Giro last month. The substance could be traced to his use of the non-prescription medicine Ginkor Fort, which he took to improve circulation in his legs.

“I did not study the composition of the drug and did not consult the team doctor before taking it: stupid,” Georges said then.

Also the B-sample was confirmed.

Ag2r-La Mondiale withdrew from their next WorldTour race, the Critérium du Dauphiné, just as the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC) regulations say. MPCC teams shall suspend themselves in the event of two positive tests within a twelve month period. And before the Georges case, Steve Hounard tested positive for EPO last September.

Ag2r-La Mondiale takes part in the Tour de Suisse. Now, the team plans to launch a new internal testing regime.

“We know very well that our team can’t make any more mistakes,” Lavenu said. “We’re going to put random internal controls in place. A team leader already has 15 to 20 controls a year, including those for the biological passport.”

Both Fabian Cancellara and Chris Horner has decided that they will not be part of RadioShack Leopard's roster for the upcoming Tour de France. The French Grand Tour starts on Saturday, June 29 on Corsica.

Horner has not raced a lot this season, being sidelined by an injury in his left knee, iliotibial band friction syndrome, which was sustained at Tirreno-Adriatico in March, where Horner finished sixth overall. Less than a week later, Horner started the Volta a Catalunya but had to withdraw after only one day. The 41-year-old American has not competed since. Two weeks ago, Horner underwent knee surgery in the United States.

"It all hurts as I was so good in the early season," said Horner, a while back. "In Tirreno-Adriatico I was as good as the best riders in the world."

Horner hopes to ride the Tour of Utah (August 6-11) followed by the Vuelta a España, which begins on August 24.

Fabian Cancellara won the the prologue time trial in Liège, Belgium, last year, and held the maillot jaune until stage 7, where Bradley Wiggins took over the overall lead.

"So from now on it is officially that i will not riding the #TourdeFrance13 i will take other option and set up different races," Cancellara wrote on Twitter.

“My ambitions now are for later in the season, for the World championships," he said later in a press release. "Because of this I won’t be part of the Tour de France this time. I will have another program. That’s why I can now follow other goals. You have to go to races 100% motivated and that’s why I’m looking forward to the Tour of Austria, Poland, the Vuelta and to be 100% fresh for worlds."

Today when I sat down in the taxi, I had problems not to cry. The taxi driver was called Nikita Novikov.

Earlier today, I found out that Russian cyclist Nikita Novikov has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for doping. The Vacansoleil-DCM rider tested positive for Hydroxy-ostarine/O Dephenyl-ostarine in an out-of-competition sample taken on 17 May. The drug is used to increase muscle mass. It is classed among substances known as selective androgen receptor modulators.

The Vacansoleil team said Novikov will be fired if the backup sample is positive too.

“At the end of 2011 we hired this young talent for two years. Since that time he didn’t manage to reach his old level in our environment despite all the efforts of our team. It needs no clarification that as a team we are devastated by this," Vacansoleil's general manager, Daan Luijkx, said in a statement on the team's website.

"As a team you try to give your riders a safe environment with good coaching and staff and that makes it very disappointing when a rider does something wrong, like it appears this is the case now. When I talked to the rider last night, after the UCI informed us, he said he had no idea how the substance got in his body.”

“I strongly believe the sport is on his way up and I am sorry for the sport that this happens but it is good that possible breaches of the rules are traced."

I hope he has not tried to dope, but I am worried and most of all, sad.

Ryder Hesjedal has re-signed with the US WorldTour squad Garmin-Sharp through 2015.

"I am very excited to continue with Garmin-Sharp for another two years," said the Canadian rider. "I have had the biggest results of my career riding for this team and I'm very happy here.

"From my teammates to everyone involved with the organization, especially our sponsors and partners, everyone works exceptionally hard for the success of Garmin-Sharp and I want to continue to be a part of that."

Last year, Hesjedal became Garmin-Sharp's first-ever Grand Tour winner as he took victory in the Giro d'Italia. He also became the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour.

Hesjedal joined the Garmin team in 2008.

"Ryder is an important part of the team, not just because of his great results and exceptional talent but also because of who he is," said Jonathan Vaughters, Garmin-Sharp general manager. "We have seen his talent grow over his years with us, something we know will continue. He is a Grand Tour champion and an important part of the fabric of Garmin-Sharp. We are thrilled that he will continue with us."

This year, Hesjedal was unable to defend his Giro d'Italia title due to effects of an upper respiratory infection. He was forced to abandon the Italian Grand Tour after 12 stages. Hesjedal will return to racing at the Tour de Suisse this weekend, and then his goal is to finished on the podium at the Tour de France.

Vini Fantini-Selle Italia has not had a very good week. Now, the team has announced that it will pass up on its invitation to the Tour of Lombardy in October.

Yesterday, it was announced that Mauro Santambrogio had tested positive for EPO at the Giro d’Italia. It was the team’s second positive test in a short time, as it was quite recently revealed that Danilo Di Luca had also tested positive for EPO in an out-of-competition test.

The Pro Continental Vini Fantini-Selle Italia team had been given a wildcard invitation from RCS Sport in January. Now, the team opts to hand back its invitation to the Tour of Lombardy on October 6th.

“Out of respect to the organisers and because of the excellent relations we have had with the RCS entourage up to now, we have decided to pass up on the invitation we received to Il Lombardia,” Vini Fantini-Selle Italia general manager Angelo Citracca said.

“We fully understand the difficult and embarrassing situation in which the heads of RCS inevitably find themselves after these recent incidents. For this reason, we have decided to step aside. Our primary interest is not to create further problems for the organisers, who we continue to thank for the great faith they have shown in us all these years.”

Nathan Earle will join Team Sky for the 2014 season. The 25-year-old Australian currently rides for Continental tean Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers.

“It’s a really good feeling to have signed for Team Sky," Earle said, according to the team Sky website. "This was the next step I was looking to take and I’m lucky enough to be signing with the most well-drilled team in the pro peloton. I’m excited to get amongst that and work for the team. It’s pretty special and I can’t wait to get started next year.”

“For my first year I’m just happy to get amongst it and do as I’m told, basically. It’s a big enough step as it is moving up to the pro level. I’m going in with open ears. I want to learn as much as I can, do as I’m told, and do a good job for the team.”

Sky's Head of Performance Support, Tim Kerrison, said that Earle “has shown great qualities and a strong mentality that we look for in Team Sky riders.”

“The Australian system has identified him physiologically as being a real talent and we’re starting to see that with his results on the road. He recently won the Tour of Toowoomba in Australia, winning the hard uphill finish on stage two and has a number of other good wins under his belt.”

This season, Earle won two stages at the New Zealand Cycle Classic, and then took overall win. He has also won stages at the Tour de Taiwan, where he finished fifth, and the Tour of Japan.

At the first stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné, Tony Martin was in a long attack, and the next day, the Omega Pharma-QuickStep rider suffered from an intestinal infection. He was not sure if he would be at the start on Tuesday for stage three. However, he did start today.

"The infection is making the rounds of the peloton at the race. I hope that it is just a harmless virus,” he wrote on his personal website. On Tuesday's stage, “I was very weak and couldn't support my team in the finale as I am used to doing.”

“Now I must see how I come through the night. Early tomorrow morning I will decide what to do.”

Today, he felt better.

The attack on the opening stage was not planned. It just happened.

“I didn't want to attack. I simply went my tempo, then I had a gap of 100 meters on the field and kept on going. Then very quickly I had three minutes and saw the lead group in front of me.”

The peloton caught him before the finish.

“But it was a good test of form anyway.”

Mauro Santambrogio will request a B-sample analysis to be undertaken after returning a positive control for Erythropoietin (EPO) on the opening day at the Giro d'Italia. The Vini Fantini rider won stage 14 ahead of Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). He finished ninth overall in the race.

"I can only say that I am in disbelief about what has happened and will request the counter analysis as soon as possible," Santambrogio told Ansa.it.

This season, Santambrogio has made quite a big improvement. He has spent the past three seasons as a domestique with BMC Racing. This year, he took third at the Trofeo Laigueglia, fifth at GP Citta di Camaiore, victory in the one-day GP Industria & Artigianato before finishing second overall at Giro del Trentino. Has all these results come from cheating? I hope not.

Santambrogio is now provisionally suspended by the UCI and had been fired by his Vini Fantini team. A while ago, his Vini Fantini teammate Danilo Di Luca failed an out-of-competition test.

Italian Alessandro Ballan crashed during a training camp last December. He broke his femur and one of his ribs, and he also had to undergo surgery to have his spleen removed.

Now, Ballan will now make his 2013 season debut appearance at the GP du canton d'Argovie.

The 33-year-old will start the race without pressure to perform. He just wants to finish the race.

"I feel good and have been living and training at altitude for 12 days, so my sensations are good. But I don't know how I will do in the races because of the changes of pace. My goal is simply to finish. I also want to thank all the people who have been close to me in this period, particularly my family, my friends and the team," said Ballan in a team statement.

The Blanco team will be re-named Belkin. The American technology company seems to be the team's new main sponsor. However, team manager Richard Plugge is still searching for a second sponsor.

Anyway, the team seems interested in signing the American rider Peter Stetina. The rider has not heard anything from the Blanco management.

"That's a question for my agents," Stetina said, "that's why I work with them, so I can just focus on being a faster bike rider."

Stetina is currently racing with Garmin-Sharp, and is preparing for the Tour of Utah and then either the USA Pro Cycling Challenge or the Vuelta a Espana.

"Next year comes, well, next year and I am a 'step A before step B" kind of guy."

The UCI rules says that riders can only sign contracts with different teams for the coming season between August 1 and December 31 each year. Riders and teams are prohibited from revealing contract negotiations outside of this transfer window.