News Flash for July 15, 2003

Edited by Gerard Knapp

Garzelli abandons due to illness

Mazzoleni out too

Garzellii
Photo: © Sirotti

Stefano Garzelli and Eddy Mazzoleni (Vini Caldirola - Sidermec) have abandoned the Tour de France due to health problems.

Apparently Garzelli was unable to eat during stage 9 due to the inflammation and this morning he decided to abandon the race. Yesterday the Italian had a tough day on the way to Gap and came in nearly 33 minutes behind the stage winner. "I'm suffering from a sore throat again and I thought about abandoning today, but let's see how things go tomorrow," he told Cyclingnews after stage 9.

His teammate Eddy Mazzoleni had to abandon this morning also, but for different reasons. Mazzoleni has a huge blister on his foot and can't pedal, so he is unable to continue.

Garzelli finished second in the Giro d'Italia last month behind Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) and was considered one of the dark horses among the Tour GS hopefuls.

Garzelli and Mazzoleni's withdrawal follow that of Joseba Beloki, whose Tour de France came to a painful halt near the end of stage 9 when he crashed on the descent of the Côte De La Rochette, the final climb of the day, with around 4 km to go. The ONCE rider who was second on the general classification was immediately taken out of the race in an ambulance. He was diagnosed with a fractured upper femur, a complex fracture of the right elbow, a simple fracture of the right finger and multiple contusions to the hip.

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