Mayo out of Vuelta and season

By Hernan Alvarez Macias

Iban Mayo didn't have a good season 2005. The Basque rider who shined in 2003 and 2004 could not achieve the same results this year. His best performance in 2005 was 12th in the Vuelta a la Comunidad Valenciana. That was very few compared to stage eight win in the 2003 Tour de France, when he was among the big protagonists in the mountains.

Today he abandoned the Vuelta a España, 108th on overall classification. "Mayo has had health problems and is still having the them", said Euskaltel team director Julian Gorospe when speaking to Spain's TVE during today's stage at the Vuelta. "He has difficulties with his back down to one of his legs. These are the same problems he had in the Tour. He is mentally destroyed. It was a season without wins for him. In two months he will be recovered, but that will be in winter."