Pierrick Fédrigo hasn't had a good start of the season, and that's sad, because it's his first season with FDJ and it's always good for the self-esteem to start the season well with a new team.
Besides a second place at GP de Plumelec-Morbihan, the Frenchman has never climbed the podium. And now he has found out why. He suffers from Lyme disease, which he got from a tick bite.
It has been a frustrating season, as he hasn't achieved any of the year's goals, which was to repeat his overall victory at the Critérium International and to take a Tour de France stage win.
FDJ team doctor Gérard Guillaume says that the bacterial infection was the reason for the rider's poor season.
Valentin Iglinskiy (Astana Team) was stopped by French police on Thursday evening from speed driving, but his team has denied rumours that the Kazakh was under influence of alcohol or drugs.
"The police made an alcohol test and a blood control. The report of this blood testing isn't known for the moment, we will communicate it as soon as the result will be given," a team statement read.
RTL.fr reports that the Kazakh was stopped for speeding at 203km/h in a 110km/h zone, and they also wrote that he had been over the legal limit for alcohol, having .64 miligrammes of alcohol per litre of expired air.
"There might be some misunderstanding, because Valentin can't understand and speak French, English or Italian correctly. The team was astonished to learn that he signed a legal paper with statements in French, while he can't understand, speak and read this language.
"The team is really shocked that the information of this confidential case as been made public to the press, while no official results have been provided yet."
Roman Kreuziger will not race the Saturday’s San Sebastián Classic. Kreuziger was one of many riders who crashed during the Tour de France and after the race, he went to a doctor who said he suffered a scaphoid fracture. His wrist has now been placed in a cast for six weeks.
“After being examined by two specialists, a decision to put my hand in cast was made,” said Kreuziger. “The next check is scheduled for Monday and until then I will spend the time to rest in the Czech Republic.”
During the race, he suffered from pain, but didn't really think about it.
“I could have had my hand in cast for two weeks now but I had no idea how bad it was. I wanted to finish the Tour. Now the most important thing for me is to get my wrist together.”
So he will not race the San Sebastián Classic this year.
“This was the best solution possible. There is nothing I can do. I’m going to skip the Classic San Sebastian where I was going to race on Saturday,” he said.
“I hope that I will be able to start riding on the stationary bike, or preferably, on my regular bike next week. I would be happy if I could ride the races in Canada in September which was in my original plan, because this is not the way I want to end the season.”
John Lee Augustyn (Team Sky) underwent a surgery, known as Birmingham Hip Resurfacing, in March and has since undergone a strict rehabilitation program.
Now, he is ready to start racing again.
“I am back up to normal training again…every day is specifically worked out for building and recovery,” he told VeloNation.
“The recovery has been going really good and as planned. It’s been a long process but everything takes time and patience.
John Lee Augustyn broke his femur in 2007 at the Tour of Portugal, and this year, doctors detected that the head of the femur was crumbling and needed to be replaced.
For six weeks, he was off the bike, and then he started a strict rehabilitation program.
“After the operation I thought it’s almost impossible to start walking and riding properly again. We have done everything step by step... Now I am back to walking normal and can do most of my full range motion again.”
He doesn't know when he will start racing, but he is am on reserve for most races."
We will see how I feel and if everything goes well in the races, then that’s good to take it to the next step."
“It feels really strange but also nice to have had a little break,” said Augustyn. “I know the first few races I will have to get use to riding in the bunch once more but I really cannot wait to feel that rush and adrenalin again.”
Vacansoleil-DCM has announced its pre-selection for the Vuelta a Espana. And the big surprise is that Ezequiel Mosquera has been included in that list, despite the fact that he hasn't raced with the team this season as he tested positive for Hydroxyethyl starch during the Spanish Grand Tour last year.
The rider will, according to the team, “only start if his case is closed and he is acquitted by the relevant authorities.”
RFEC had begun its investigation in early July, so most likely he will have no chance to race. Mosquera finished second in 2010 Vuelta a Espana and had hoped for victory this year.
Hydroxyethyl starch doesn’t enable the improvement of sporting performance and isn't forbidden in case of intramuscular or oral intake. And that's why he has never formally been suspended. Still his Vacansoleil-DCM has decided not to let him race.
I remember the morning when I learned that Alberto Contador had tested positive for Clenbuterol in the 2010 Tour de France. I was annoyed, surprised and upset, but at the same time I was almost spiteful. It sounds so nasty when I say it, but I have problems with this Spaniard. Probably because he reminds of myself.
Anyway, since that day I have wondered if he would be suspended or not. But I, and everybody else, has been waiting. And now, Alberto Contador's hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has been postponed again. And not until November will anything be decided.
The Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) cleared Contador of Clenbuterol charges in February, and since then both the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the decision.
CAS said that it “has allowed a request for a second exchange of written submissions between the parties as well as for a new procedural calendar. Such request was formulated by WADA with the unanimous agreement of the three other parties.”
"The second round of written submissions will allow the parties to complete their evidence and arguments relating to some specific scientific issues."
Valentin Iglinskiy (Astana Team) was stopped by French police on Thursday evening from speed driving, but his team has denied rumours that the Kazakh was under influence of alcohol or drugs.
Roman Kreuziger will not race the Saturday’s San Sebastián Classic. Kreuziger was one of many riders who crashed during the Tour de France and after the race, he went to a doctor who said he suffered a scaphoid fracture. His wrist has now been placed in a cast for six weeks.
John Lee Augustyn (Team Sky) underwent a surgery, known as Birmingham Hip Resurfacing, in March and has since undergone a strict rehabilitation program.
Vacansoleil-DCM has announced its pre-selection for the Vuelta a Espana. And the big surprise is that Ezequiel Mosquera has been included in that list, despite the fact that he hasn't raced with the team this season as he tested positive for Hydroxyethyl starch during the Spanish Grand Tour last year.
I remember the morning when I learned that Alberto Contador had tested positive for Clenbuterol in the 2010 Tour de France. I was annoyed, surprised and upset, but at the same time I was almost spiteful. It sounds so nasty when I say it, but I have problems with this Spaniard. Probably because he reminds of myself.
