Freire's spinal problems unchanged

Triple World Champion Oscar Freire is still suffering from the same cervical spinal problems which made him miss the Vuelta a España and the World Championships in Salzburg this season. The Rabobank rider did win the Hamburg Cyclassics after abandoning the Tour de France, but his condition hasn't allowed him to train properly since then, as he was fighting off headaches and dizziness.

"It's still the same," said Freire as Marca's Josu Garai caught up with him at his Swiss residence. "I'm trying to solve the problem before the season starts, but instead of improving, it's actually worsened." The headaches and dizziness persisted, at times preventing the cyclist from leading a normal life, although Freire has been treated by Rabobank doctors with all due attention. "I changed my physiotherapy, went to a neurologist, got a scan, acupuncture, stretching, relaxation... but it just didn't get better," he said.