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Virus forces Flecha out of Vuelta
Spain's Juan Antonio Flecha withdrew from the Tour of Spain during the seventh stage on Friday, hours after being treated in hospital for a virus that resulted in the death of a Team Sky masseur.
Spanish cyclist Juan Antonio Flecha withdrew from the Tour of Spain Friday, hours after being treated in hospital for a virus that hit other members of Team Sky and resulted in the death of masseur Txema Gonzalez,.
Flecha dropped out of the race 126 kilometres into the seventh stage, a 187-kilometre course from Murcia to Orihuela in eastern Spain, an AFP journalist covering the event said.
A spokesman for Britain's Team Sky earlier said the rider began the stage despite being admitted to hospital during the night.
He said Flecha was suffering from a virus that has already forced Team Sky riders John Lee Augustyn and Britain's Ben Swift out of the event.
"Doctors recommended Flecha withdraw from the race if he was still suffering from fever or nausea," he said.
The source of the virus was not immediately clear, but Team Sky has so far ruled out food poisoning.
