Tour Bars Two Cyclists Under Investigation

Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc said Monday that two cyclists involved in an Italian doping investigation have been removed from the Tour de France.

Stefano Casagranda of the Italian Saeco team, who was in 155th place, and Martin Hvastija of Alessio, another Italian team, who was in 124th place, were told to not be on the start line when the Tour returns from its first rest day for the ninth stage today. “We do not want the serenity of the competition disrupted by their presence,” Leblanc said.

Hvastija told Associated Press the decision was “cruel,” and said that he and Casagranda were easy targets because of their lowly position in the standings.

Also, the French newspaper Le Monde reported that United States Postal team member Pavel Padrnos of the Czech Republic has received a summons to appear in front of an Italian court to face doping allegations from 2001, before he was a member of the U.S. team.

Team director Johan Bruyneel discounted the report last week.

He told reporters: “There is no case. It’s not even worth considering having any doubts about this boy. We’re not speaking about any forbidden substance.”

-- Diane Pucin