Mazzoleni not retiring

By Paul Verkuylen

Contrary to earlier reports from his Astana team, Eddy Mazzoleni has said he is not retiring from the sport of professional cycling. Earlier this week, a team Astana spokesperson told ANP that their rider, Mazzoleni, who was third in this year's Giro d'Italia, had decided to retire from the sport, stating that "due to the investigation of his involvement with the doctor Carlo Santuccione and the 'Oil for Drugs' case, he has decided to stop," referring to the case that was heard by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) last Friday.

However, Mazzoleni himself has denied that he is retiring. "It is not true, I am not retiring from cycling, I have only cancelled my contract with Astana," he told SportWereld. "It is true that a lot rides on what happens on Friday, but today I have been training and I have no intention of stopping."

Mazzoleni began his professional cycling career with Saeco in 1995 and has ridden for a number of other teams including Polti, Tacconi, Vini Caldirola, Lampre, T-Mobile and Astana. As well as his third place in the 2007 Giro, the Italian has also won a stage of the Tour de Romandie, and the Tour de Suisse.