Tyler - has pulled out.

[Gat64]

No explanation given as yet. Too bad.

[Keith A]

This is the info from CyclingNews.com...

Hamilton out

After finishing in the last group yesterday, more than half an hour down, Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) has pulled out of the Vuelta a España. The American did not sign on for the 13th stage between El Ejido and Málaga today. Hamilton won the Stage 8 time trial, showing that he had not lost any of the form that won him the gold medal in that discipline in Athens. But his 11 minute time loss in Stage 9, together with his big loss in Stage 13 out his words that he had not done any specific preparation for a three week tour.

[bostondrunk]

Maybe USPS beat the crap out of him last night for being such a pansy. :rolleyes:
I bet Floyd took pity though, and gave him one of George's trucker.com baseball caps for free... :D

[Gat64]

Seems to be some stomach ailment


From Cycling News:
Finally, we have some news on Tyler Hamilton, who abandoned the race as he did not depart on the stage this morning. The Phonak leader has been suffering in the last two stages from an upset stomach, according to Reuters.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . on the lead page of VeloNews this week talks about stomach problems he had just before the Olympic time trial. But regardless of the reason, if he's lost that much time and has any plans on riding the world's then, cutting his losses and gaining some recuperation time is not that bad an idea.

I just can't subscribe to the idea that he may be a "quitter" or a "crasher"--not with the palmares he has built up and his clearly demonstrated ability to ride with pain.

In fact, his willingness to withdraw from events this year could very well be interpreted as maturity of judgement and development of some healthy self-interest. Granted, his continuation of the Giro with a broken shoulder was valiant, but it also meant he had to ride the Tour that year with a still-F***ed up shoulder.

BBDave