Klöden sick again

By Susan Westemeyer

Andreas Klöden of Team Astana has not been performing up to standard in the Vuelta a Castilla y León, and it proved too much for him on Wednesday, as he dropped out. "He started the stage and even worked for the team," spokesman Philippe Maertens told Cyclingnews. "But he is really sick. Headache and flu ... sick again."

Klöden has been struggling with health problems all season. He came down with a fever at the teams training camp in February, and then missed the Vuelta a Mallorca after returning to Europe. He recently finished third overall in the Volta a Santarem.