Bondariew "unfit to start"

Ukrainian rider Bogdan Bondariew was declared unfit to start the Driedaagse van De Panne on Tuesday, after the UCI carried out health controls in the morning before the start. Although Bondariew's haematocrit was 46 (under the 50 percent limit), his reticulocyte (new red blood cells) count was considered too high, and he was told to rest for two weeks.

Bondariew's Intel-Action team press officer Marcin Karda told Cyclingnews that his high reticulocyte count was a result of a month long altitude camp in Colorado Springs recently.

The UCI also tested Liberty Seguros, Landbouwkrediet-Colnago and Team Wiesenhof riders. No others were declared unfit.