Yet another rider in this years Tour de France has tested positive and has been disqualified! Saunier Duval was notified just before the start of today’s stage that their GC leader Ricardo Ricco, had tested positive for EPO. The team took immediate action and voluntarily withdrew themselves from the race and Ricco was taken into custody for questioning by French authorities.

Ricardo Ricco, who had won 2 stages in this years tour, reportedly is part of a group of riders being targeted by doping control and has had to submit several samples during this years tour. One of those samples came back positive for a third generation version of EPO, Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator (CERA). If Ricco’s B sample comes back showing positive as well, Ricco will be stripped of his two stage wins, and will face a 2 year ban.

We’ll keep an eye on developments and report what we hear.

Have something to add, or want to chime in with your thoughts? We welcome comments below!

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Italian rider Riccardo Ricco made it two stage wins with his outstanding win in the first day of the Pyrenees. Ricco made his move on the Col D’Aspin where the peloton had already wore thin. His closest competitor, Vladimir Efimkin finished a minute four seconds behind Riccò.

Race Leader Kim Kirchen finished in pack and retains his Maillot Jaune, and his six second lead over second place Cadel Evans. Evans was able to regain his composure after a crash midway through the stage and was paced back up to the peloton by his team. American Christian Vandevelde moves up to third place on the day and is now forty four seconds behind Kirchen.

Kim Kirchen also is the points leader for the green jersey now, Andy Schleck moves into the white.

Stage 9 Results
1 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott - 5.39.28 (39.59km/h)
2 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale - 1.04
3 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale - 1.17
4 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole
5 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram
6 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
7 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
8 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas
9 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre
10 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Silence - Lotto

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Sun Valley, ID — Riccardo Ricco, nicknamed “The Cobra”, struck again today in the Giro d’ Italia clinching stage 8. Scott Bicycles made a custom Addict for the young champ, and paint scheme includes a cobra snake on the IMP head tube/down tube/top tube intersection.

“It’s fun to do these special bikes for the best guys on the team,” said Hermann Pacal, Equipment Manager for the Saunier Duval – Scott Professional Cycling Team. “It gives the leader a sense of confidence to have these special models and strengthens the spirit of the team. We are happy to have the opportunity to do this with Ricco, and happy to see 2 stage wins already.”

The Addict is a 790gram road-racing frame made of HMX carbon fiber. It has every carbon detail one can imagine, including carbon dropouts, cable stops and FD mount.