Hamilton out of Castilla y León

By Gregor Brown

Tyler Hamilton is out of Rock Racing's team for the Castilla y León stage race this week in Spain. The USA Champion misses a chance to race against Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador.

"He is suffering from bronchitis," said Directeur Sportif Rudy Pevenage to Cyclingnews. "In Mexico I thought it would be better, but it is still bad. I prefer he is 100% okay."

Hamilton was the rider Pevenage planned to head the team in the five-day stage race. However, he stayed in the USA to deal with family matters and his bronchitis. Pevenage expects him back for the remainder of Rock Racing's Iberian tour: the one-day Gran Premio Llodio, two days after Castilla y León and Portugal's Volta ao Alentejo em Bicicleta, April 1 to 5.

"I think it is better to let him out for this race [Castilla y León] and then he will come over for [Volta ao] Alentejo."

The team for Castilla y León is Victor Hugo Peña, Oscar Sevilla, Fred Rodriguez, José Enrique Gutierrez, Francisco Mancebo, David Vitoria, David Martín Velasco and Glen Chadwick.

Hamilton won stages in the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and an Olympic Gold medal prior to testing positive for blood doping in 2004. He returned to racing after his two-year suspension with Tinkoff Credit Systems.