All have been accused of being involved in organised drug taking by cyclists. Festina was thrown out of the 1998 Tour for their obvious involvement admitted by Roussel and Voet. Virenque has always denied any involvement and is now riding for the Italian team Polti.
Riis said at a press conference: "Up until now there are no results from the large number of tests that we have done on me. I'll get them some time during this week. But Godefroot and I have agreed that there is no point in me racing on Saturday when I already know that I would not be able to finish. I might be ready to race the Rund um den Henninger Turm (May 1) but only time will tell."
Riis dropped out of LBL after only 150 kms.
Rabobank has a strong team for the Amstel Gold Race: Michael Boogerd, Erik Dekker, Leon van Bon, Koos Moerenhout, Mark Lotz, Maarten den Bakker, Markus Zberg and Rolf Sörensen.
He has been in rehabilitation for a year now. 32-year old Scott Sunderland spent the northern winter back home in Australia and had the "worst xmas in his life." He said: "I spent more than 6 months just recovering from the traumatic injuries but things were not improving. I also lost muscle mass and strength. I saw no light at the end of the tunnel."
Sunderland was a model rider. He rode for 5 years with TVM (rather ironic), 2 years with Lotto, and a year with the French team GAN. He has 5 victories to his credit. The most recent was the GP Nokere which he won while riding for the small Belgian team Palmans. He rode the Amstel Gold Race for Palmans.
After he was hit by Priem's car he was admitted to hospital in Maastricht. They released him soon after and he returned to Belgium. He was rushed to hospital in Gent late the following night when he appeared to be suffering serious injuries to his head. He then had blood clots removed from his brain and his life was threatened. He also has whiplash to his neck and problems with his lower back. In the new year he began careful training and rode a few training races. But the back and neck problems persisted and he then encountered additional injuries from riding out of alignment. First his foot and then a muscle behind his knee. His headaches also persisted.
This week he begins riding again after a 10 week layoff to get over the new problems. He has been treated by the physiotherapist who treated Johan Museeuw after his bad injuries during last year's Paris-Roubaix. He said: "I can ride for an hour per day and it feels great."
The financial matters are dragging out. He is currently receiving worker's compensation. It is equal to 90 per cent of his base salary from Palmans. "That is not much. Given Palmans is a small team I was on a low salary - around 25,000 guilders a year. To supplement that we have to win prizemoney. And I have been a year without that."
He is unhappy with TVM who are contesting the payout. "My wife and my lawyer have spoken with Priem, the TVM boss Bos and their lawyer. What they are offering is "peanuts". We have placed the matter in the court at Tongeren. But I have no idea of when it will be heard. Given that I worked for Priem for 5 year you can say I am disappointed with him and TVM. I know that Priem has his own problems (EPO affair). But he hasn't even bothered to ring me and see how I am."
"I have been watching the classics on TV. I saw RVV and LBL and they gave me mixed feelings. Great races but I wanted to be there. I think when I watch the Amstel Gold Race this weekend those feelings will be even stronger."
The tissue was first found when his testicular tumor was found in November 1998. The Alpha and Beta Protein count is normal. His cancer count is 0. The surgery will remove the dead tissue and help speed his recovery. Lechuga has been back on his bike and has been seen at the local training rides. After the operation, he should be able to resume riding with the hope of racing a local event at the end of the year.
Stage 1, May 7, Znojmo - Znojmo
Stage 2, May 8, Znojmo-Luhacovice
Stage 3, May 9, Luhacovice - Pustevny
Stage 4, May 10, Opava - Polanica Zdroj
Stage 5, May 11, Polanica Zdroj -Polkowice
Stage 6, May 12, Zagan - Cottbus
Stage 7, May 12, Cottbus ITT
Stage 8, May 13, Freital - Hof
Stage 9, May 14, Rehau - Weimar
Stage 10, May 15, Erfurt - Magdeburg