Mauricio Ardila, Columbian climbing hope at Dutch team Rabobank, has abandoned the Tour de Suisse before that race moved into high mountains. Stepping off his bike in Tuesday's stage four after being unable to take on the day's first climb, Ardila will now be examined by the medical staff of his team.
"There will be a lot of criticism, but I'll take it for him," said a loyal team director Adri van Houwelingen, who already had to watch his rider abandon the Giro d'Italia a few weeks ago.
