Andy Schleck quits Vuelta a España sick, three weeks before Worlds
Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) rides in the Vuelta a España (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Luxembourg Champion Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) abandoned in the eighth stage of the Vuelta a España today. He stopped 88 kilometres into the 204.7-kilometre mountain stage to Alto de Aitana.
"I am sick," he told Cyclingnews. "I couldn't eat since yesterday night and I had cramps in the stomach. I was not able to go on in the race."
Schleck, 24, won the young riders' classification and finished second by 4:11 to Alberto Contador (Astana) at the Tour de France in July. He left the Vuelta in 51st place, 3:10 behind race leader and teammate Fabian Cancellara.
He started the Vuelta to prepare for the end of the season: the World Championships, September 27, and Giro di Lombardia, October 17. He is a favourite for both of the races.
Schleck won the Liège-Bastogne-Liège one-day race this April. He finished fourth in Italy's Giro di Lombardia one-day race two years ago, but pulled out of the 2007 and 2008 World Championships.
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