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CYCLING

Schumacher sues over Tour de France doping charges

German cyclist Stefan Schumacher, who failed two drugs tests at the Tour de France, confirmed here Thursday he was suing the French anti-doping authorities (AFLD) for defamation.

Published: 19 December 2008 08:48 CET
Schumacher sues over Tour de France doping charges
Photo: DPA

A statement issued by Schumacher’s lawyer Michael Lehner said: “These tests were undertaken… with a number of possibilities of blood contamination, of mixing up samples and other circumstances which could have distorted the result.”

The 27-year-old Schumacher is one of four riders to have failed drugs tests at this year’s Tour de France.

According to the AFLD the German rider, who won both time trials, tested positive for the new generation of EPO blood booster Cera on July 3, two days before the start of the Tour, and on July 15, a rest day at Pau.

In October the German Cycling federation (BDR) said Schumacher, who was riding for the Gerolsteiner team at the Tour, was facing a two-year ban and a fine.

The cyclist himself has denied all knowledge of doping.

Lehner described the suspension as “arbitrary,” and said his client had applied to the (BDR) for a professional rider’s licence for the 2009 season.

“Stefan Schumacher is currently preparing for the next season and has already been training in Cyprus,” the lawyer added.

CYCLING

Swiss rider dies after fall into ravine on Tour of Switzerland

Swiss rider Gino Maeder has died from the injuries he sustained when he plunged into a ravine during a stage of the Tour of Switzerland, his team Bahrain-Victorious said on Friday.

Published: 16 June 2023 12:54 CEST
Swiss rider dies after fall into ravine on Tour of Switzerland

Maeder, 26, fell during a high-speed descent on the fifth stage between Fiesch and La Punt on Thursday, after an exhausting day marked by three ascents over 2,000 metres altitude.

He had been found “lifeless in the water” of a ravine below the road, “immediately resuscitated then transported to the hospital in Chur by air”, organisers said.

But the next day, “Gino lost his battle to recover from the serious injuries he sustained,” Bahrain-Victorious said in a statement.

“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of Gino Mäder,” his team wrote in a statement.

“On Friday June 16th, following a very serious fall during the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse, Gino lost his fight to recover from the serious injuries he had suffered. Our entire team is devastated by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with Gino’s family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.”

“Despite the best efforts of the phenomenal staff at Chur hospital, Gino couldn’t make it through this, his final and biggest challenge, and at 11:30am we said goodbye to one of the shining lights of our team,” the team said in a statement.

Maeder had enjoyed a strong start to the season, finishing fifth in the Paris-Nice race.

American rider Magnus Sheffield also fell on the same descent from Albula, during the most difficult stage of the race with multiple climbs. The Ineos-Grenadiers rider was hospitalised with “bruises and concussion,” organisers said.

On Thursday, world champion Remco Evenepoel criticised the decision to compete on such a dangerous road.

“While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasn’t a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent,” the Belgian wrote on Twitter.

“As riders, we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain.”

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