Definitely no Vuelta for McEwen

Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen will definitely not be riding the Vuelta a España this year, Predictor-Lotto team manager Marc Sergeant announced Thursday. After a meeting on Wednesday night the sprinter and team agreed on the plan. "This is the last thing to be said on the matter, McEwen told us himself," Sergeant told Sporza.

"McEwen rode the Vuelta a España in 2006, because he wanted to win a stage in each of the three Grand Tours. But that went very badly, and we said, 'never again,'" Sergeant explained.

He has won three stages in both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, including one stage in each this year, but has never won a stage in the Vuelta.

Sergeant also confirmed that he has held talks with Levi Leipheimer, who is leaving Discovery Channel when it folds its operations at the end of the season, "but I cannot say when the discussions will be concluded."