Ludewig gets a surprise visit

Just because a cyclist announces his retirement doesn't mean the anti-doping agency has forgotten him. Two recent retirees have had visits from the doping controllers, and one of them has had his wrist slapped for not being at home.

Jörg Ludewig announced in August that he would hang up his bike at the end of the season, and rode his last race for Team Wiesenhof-Felt in September. However, he remained in the national testing pool and on November 20 controllers called at his home for an unannounced, out-of-competition test - but he was not at home.

Noting that "members of the national testing pool are required to give exact and up-to-date information about their whereabouts," the German cycling federation said that it was officially giving Ludewig a public warning.

Michael Boogerd, who retired from riding for Rabobank at the end of last season, was visited by Dutch doping controllers on Christmas Eve.