Not so restful
Tuesday was a rest day at the Tour. Most rest days are laid back and uneventful. This one was not.
Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for a banned blood transfusion and left the tour. The rest of the Astana team has also withdrawn from the remainder of the tour. Police raided the team hotel forcing many team riders to remain in the hotel as a search was conducted.
Vinokourov who won stages 13 and 15, after a several days of up and down riding, fell out of contention on Monday as he finished the stage and was some 28 minutes out.
Many questions have yet to be answered, but one thing is clear, Vinokourov is walking away from a sport which for a short time in the 2007 tour, he was viewed as a hero. Now he’ll be viewed as a cheater.
Tour Leader: Michael Rasmussen