O'Grady speaks on early Vuelta exit
Stuart O'Grady has set the record straight concerning both his and Andy Schleck's dismissal from the Vuelta a Espana by their Saxo Bank team manager, Bjarne Riis.
He also said that Riis' decision may mean him travelling to Australia for the World Road Race Championships earlier than expected.
Schleck and O'Grady went out after having dinner on Monday, the first day of rest on this year's Vuelta route.
Riis, who considered the pair to have broken internal team rules, sent both riders home before the start of Tuesday's tenth stage.
O'Grady say that was not a late night
Rumours that the pair stayed out until five o’clock in the morning that night have circulated in the press, but O'Grady was quick to deny these when speaking to The Australian.
“We stepped out of the team hotel at about ten o’clock and stopped for a couple of beers at a bar in the local piazza,” he explained. “We had two beers, that’s all. Some members of the European press over here have made us sound like we were on the drink all night. That's simply not true."
Preparation for Worlds spoiled by exit
O'Grady was competing in this year's Vuelta in order to prepare for the World Road Race Championships, set to start in his home country later this month. His untimely exit means he may travel down under earlier than expected.
“[Riis'] decision has cost me two weeks of hard racing preparing for the Worlds in Geelong. But I guess it means that I can bring the family home a little earlier than expected. It also means I've ridden my last race for Saxo Bank. This is not the way I would have wanted my career racing for Bjarne Riis to end. I've ridden my guts out on the front for the team for the last six seasons.”
Since joining Saxo Bank in 2006, O'Grady has won the Paris–Roubaix and the Herald Sun Tour. He also claimed one stage win in the 2006 edition of the Vuelta.
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