Elsbeth Vink out with Epstein Barr virus

Dutch Mountain biker Elsbeth Vink (Heijdens-Ten Tusscher) will be out of competition for at least five months. The number five in the Olympic Women's Cross Country in Athens has the Epstein Barr virus. Vink has had physical problems since the end of December, and yesterday went in for a medical checkup in the Sports Medical Centre Papendal (Arnhem). Doctor Tjeerd de Vries found that she had the Epstein Barr virus. She now has to rest and, in the best possible situation, can race again at the end of July.

"This is a big disappointment for me," said Vink, who wanted to score podium places in the MTB World Cup. Now she hopes to make a comeback in August.