Season ends for Elmiger

Martin Elmiger of AG2R La Mondiale has to end his season prematurely. The Swiss rider will undergo surgery this week to take care of narrow arteries in his right leg.

“After the operation I can't do any sport for six weeks, so that it heals properly,” he noted on his homepage. “That means I won't be able to ride my homeland World Championships in Mendrisio, which is disappointing, but my health is more important.”

The 31-year-old said that it was not an easy decision to make, but that his physical problems had worsened in recent races. “If you want to ride with the best in pro cycling, then your body has to simply be 100 percent fit.”

Elmiger has achieved a number of top finishes this year, including fourth overall in the Tour Down Under. His last races were the Tour de Suisse and the Swiss national road championships.