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CYCLING

Cyclist Contador ducks court in doping case

Former Tour de France winner Alberto Contador will not testify at the Operacion Puerto trial in defence of Manolo Sainz, his former manager at the Liberty Seguros cycling team, the defendant's lawyer confirmed on Tuesday.

Published: 20 February 2013 16:02 CET
Cyclist Contador ducks court in doping case
A pensive Alberto Contador awaits the kick-off of the fifth stage of the Tour of Oman on February 15. Photo: Jeff Pachoud/AFP

Sainz is on trial along with four others, including the principal accused Eufemiano Fuentes, for endangering public health by green-lighting blood transfusions.

"Looking at how the process is developing, I will not call Alberto Contador as a witness," the cyclist's lawyer Ignacio Arroyo told reporters.

Contador was all set to testify on Friday, but Arroyo claimed his decision not to call the Spaniard was a sign the case was going well for his client.

"Looking at how things are developing every day during the case, I believe that certain things are on the right path with respect to my client."

On Monday the court heard that the doping substance Synacthen found in his residence when he was arrested along with Fuentes in 2006 was in fact given to
the team by the Spanish Medical Agency.

In another twist in the trial, though, the judge, Julia Patricia Santamaría, confirmed that another cyclist due to testify on Friday, Angel Vicioso, cannot be located.

Watch Contador's victory in the 2010 Tour de France below: 

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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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