Mercado and Paolini still injured

Quick.Step riders Juan Miguel Mercado and Luca Paolini are still out of action as a result of ongoing knee problems. After undergoing a MRI-examination at Belgium's Leuven hospital yesterday, Mercado will be out for approximately one month after riding over a piece of metal that hit his right knee while training on March 18. Meanwhile, 28 year-old Paolini underwent an sonogram at the same hospital because of recurring problems with his right knee, with the results indicating an inflammation of the ilio-tibial band. Paolini has been advised to rest for two weeks before resuming normal training.