Doping row sidelines Keisse at Austria Tour
Belgium Team Quick Step withdrew Iljo Keisse from the Austria Tour after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) repealed his acquittal from doping.The Belgium cycling ace was found guilty of doping two years ago, but his countrys anti-doping agency overruled the ban.Now his team decided to take him out of the currently ongoing Austria Tour in a reaction to the decision of the CAS.Team Quick Step boss Patrick Lefevere explained today (Thurs): “I had no choice. Keisse can appeal the verdict, but we will keep him suspended from all activities until the issue is settled.”Lefevre stressed he needed to consider his teams cooperation with sponsors.Austria Tour chief organiser Ursula Riha announced the Belgium team will not face consequences over the recent developments.Riccardo Ricco meanwhile crowned himself “King of the Großglockner” by winning the infamous stage finishing on Austrias highest mountain yesterday.The Italian Ceramica Flaminia team member won ahead of Spaniards Sergio Pardilla.Ricco extended his lead in the overall preliminary ranking to 1:44 ahead of fellow Italian Emanuele Sella who came third yesterday.Tyrolean Stefan Denifl is best Austrian in tenth (+5:34).The competitions 62nd edition, which started in Dornbirn, Vorarlberg last Sunday, will finish in the city centre of Vienna this Sunday (11 July).