Hondo out of Hessen tour

Danilo Hondo of Team Lamonta will not be allowed to ride the Dreiländertour, formerly the Hessen Tour, race organizers announced at a press conference Monday. Tour manager Christian Bergemann said, "He won't get a start number from me, even if he's on Lamonta's starting list."

Hondo was banned on doping charge, but a Swiss court cleared him to ride again, at least temporarily. "He is a convicted doper. I have responsibilities to my sponsors and co-workers. That's why I'm taking the hard line, even when it hurts me personally," according to Bergemann.

He added, "We want to fight against doping with all it consequences. We can't fight it with lip service. I hope that other race organizers will also take this stand."