The world of cycling was hit by another doping scandal on Tuesday when French rider Lloyd Mondory was revealed to have tested positive for EPO, the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced.
Mondory, 32, of the AG2R-La Mondiale team, who has twice taken part in the Tour de France, returned a positive test for the performance-enhancing blood booster on Feb. 17.
“I’m ashamed, I’m ashamed, I’m ashamed,” AG2R manager Vincent Lavenu said.
Photo: AFP
“I feel a sense of betrayal, he’s been with us for 12 years and now the team’s reputation will be tarnished,” he said after the second stage of the Paris-Nice finished in Saint-Amand-Montrond, France.
Mondory turned professional in 2004 and has spent his entire career at AG2R, winning the French Cup in 2006, and riding in the Tour de France in 2009 and 2010.
Two days before the positive test, Mondory finished seventh in the Clasica Almeria and he recently had his contract extended until next year.
“I cannot handle this, there has been too much work and too much investment. My life is cycling and when the UCI contact us, it is always shameful [to receive this kind of information],” Lavenu said. “He [Mondory] was in tears, but his explanation doesn’t convince me. I hope he has the courage to tell the truth and not hide behind false excuses.”
Mondory is the first top level French cyclist, since teammate Steve Houanard in 2012, to test positive for EPO. The team also faces suspension over the charges and are in danger of having their participation in this year’s Tour de France called into question.
Meanwhile, Germany’s Andre Greipel won a sprint finish to the second stage of Paris-Nice on Tuesday, with Polish world champion Michal Kwiatkowski holding onto the leader’s maillot jaune.
In what was a largely straight-forward 172km run down from the ZooParc at Beauval near Paris, the only breakaway bid came from Frenchman Arnaud Gerard.
He kept the lead for 134km, but was easily reeled in by the peloton setting up the sprint finish.
Greipel dominated that to take the win ahead of Frenchman Arnaud Demare, with another German, John Degenkolb, taking third place ahead of Michael Matthews of Australia.
“Paris-Nice is a big race and it usually has quite a few top sprinters,” Greipel said. “I hadn’t competed in it for several years, so I am delighted. I was feeling sick for a few days, but made a quick recovery because I was already doing well in the Tour of the Algarve [last month].”
Kwiatkowski said he had been surprised there had not been more attacks in the race so far, but was delighted to be able to hold onto the lead.
The Race to the Sun continued yesterday with a 179km stage from Saint-Amand-Montrond to Saint-Pourgain-sur-Sioule.
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