Drugs hit Tour de France again; Italy's Ricco ousted

NARBONNE, France — Drugs hit the Tour de France again Thursday, the third doping bust in this race and netting the biggest name yet: Italy's Riccardo Ricco, a winner of two stages.

The disclosure came hours before the 12th stage, which was won by Britain's Mark Cavendish while Australia's Cadel Evans kept the yellow jersey.

But as is often the case in cycling, drugs overshadowed racing. This is the third straight year, the sport's showpiece event has been undercut by doping.

Ricco was detained by police and booed by spectators before the stage. He is the third rider in this race to test positive for the performance enhancer EPO, cycling's drug of choice. His Saunier-Duval team withdrew from the Tour and suspended all activities.

Ricco, a 24-year-old rider who won two Tour stages this year, tested positive after the fourth stage, a time trial in Cholet.

"It's just amazing. It's irresponsible," British cyclist David Millar said. "This guy does not have any love or care for the sport."

Pierre Bordry, the head of the French anti-doping agency, announced the result shortly before the stage. Saunier Duval sporting director Matxin Fernandez said the team suspension will remain in place until it's clear precisely what happened.

"It's a team decision not to start the race," Fernandez said. "He's our leader. We can't act as if nothing happened."

Cavendish led a group sprint to the finish, completing a 105-mile ride through rolling hills and plains from Lavelanet to Narbonne. Evans, trailing in the main pack, leads Frank Schleck of Luxembourg by one second and Christian Vande Velde of the United States by 38.

"Every time it's special," said Cavendish.

Cavendish, a Team Columbia rider who had never won a stage before this year, was followed by Sebastien Chavanel of France in second place, with Gert Steegmans of Belgium third.

Ricco, the Giro d'Italia runner-up, won the sixth and ninth stages of this Tour and was ninth overall entering Thursday. He was 2 minutes, 29 seconds behind Evans.

"We are learning that things that look too good to be true are too good to be true," Millar said.

Ricco had come under suspicion about what he says is his naturally high hematocrit level — the volume of red blood cells. High hematocrit levels can suggest EPO use but do not confirm it.

Following his victory in the ninth stage, Ricco said he has had high hematocrit levels "ever since I was little," adding "I hope soon that everybody will stop speaking about that."

Ricco's popularity in Italy rocketed with his two stage wins, drawing front-page coverage in the soccer-focused Gazzetta dello Sport.

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