Nuyens disillusioned

"This is a bitter pill to swallow," said Nick Nuyens, whose Cofidis team removed itself from the Tour de France. "It hasn't all sunk in yet." Nuyens was forced to leave following the news that his Italian team-mate Cristian Moreni had tested positive for testosterone.

"Of course I was surprised [by Moreni's positive test], he told the Gazet van Antwerpen. "I am disillusioned. I don't know what they will do with us. All I know is that we have to leave the Tour.

"When you take part in the Tour for the first time, you hope to at least reach Paris, not this," he said bitterly. "And I was so happy to have survived the last mountain stage."

The Cofidis riders were questioned by the police after the stage. "Fortunately, there was food on the bus and we could change clothes," recalled Nuyens. "But this is absolutely not what you expect after seven hours on your bike in the mountains. Not nice." SW