US cyclist David Zabriskie missed the Stage 11 time cut on Thursday and has had to leave the Tour de France.
The Utah resident told VeloNews that his left knee, injured several years ago, has been hurting since Team CSC made all the riders change to a different type of shoe during the Giro d'Italia.
Zabriskie became only the third American to wear the yellow jersey in 2005 (winning the prologue), and finished the Tour for the first time in 2006. He finished in 11th place in this year's prologue and has steadily dropping down the standings ever since. After Wednesday's stage, he was in 170th place, one ahead of last.
Zabriskie also is the US time trial champion. Let's hope his knee recovers with some much-needed rest, and he's back in the saddle again soon.
Rodriguez spouts off
Sprinter Freddie Rodriguez is sick and tired of the dangerous jigs and jags on the way to the finish lines at the Tour de France. He was involved in a crash on the way to finish in Ghent on Stage 2, and went down near the finish again on Thursday in Montpellier.
Rodriguez would have been able to contest the win of Robbie Hunter if he hadn't been lying on his side next to the barriers. Apparently several rides swung a little wide on the turn and crashed into the barriers.
VeloNews said a report spoke to Rodriguez shortly after the finish:
When a reporter said the crash was tough luck, an angry Rodriguez said, “It's not tough luck. The Tour de France has to start paying, has to start paying for this. They have no respect for their riders.”
Rodriguez crashed out of the Tour de France last year when he and another rider hit a cut in the pavement that had been covered over. At the time, Rodriguez wrote in his blog:
“So, there we both lay on the road with serious problems from a mistake that can only be blamed on the Tour de France organization. They need to understand that they put our lives in their hands with that mistake.”
Now it has happened two more times. No wonder he's getting angry.
US in the GC
Here's how the US riders stack up overall after the 12th Stage:
9 Levi Leipheimer, Discovery — 3:53
25 Chris Horner, Predictor – Lotto — 9:11
39 George Hincapie, Discovery — 26:21
48 Christian Vande Velde, Team CSC — 32:46
136 Fred Rodriguez, Predictor – Lotto — 1:29:36
David Zabriskie, Team CSC, did not finish
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