Jufré out due to bad fall

By Shane Stokes in Lugo

The Davitamon-Lotto team has suffered a further disappointment after the early withdrawal of Robbie McEwen due to an accident involving Spanish rider Josep Jufré during Saturday's eighth stage.

Jufré was riding well in the overall standings and started the day 12th, 2'49 off the race lead. However any hopes he had of finishing up in the general classification were dashed when he had a bad fall 69 kilometres into the race.

He sliced his arm on a roadside barrier, suffering a deep five centimetre gash in his right arm. After the stage a race official told journalists that he lost between one and one and a half litres of blood due to an artery being severed.

Doctors were able to stem the bleeding and Jufré was then taken to hospital.