VeloNews | Riccardo Ricco tests positive.

The French anti-doping agency (AFLD) confirmed Thursday that Italian climbing sensation Ricardo Ricco (Saunier Duval) has tested positive for new variant of the blood booster erythropoietin (EPO).

Ricco, winner of two mountain stages and ninth in the overall standings, provided a urine sample which contained the banned substance CERA (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator).

Ricco was questioned by gendarmes before the start of Thursday’s 12th stage between Lavlanet and Narbonne. He was then driven away by them in a Saunier Duval team car.

Ricco was one of the riders particularly targeted by the AFLD during the race and had been tested at least four times, including his victories on stages six and nine.

Like synthetic erythropoietin (rEPO), CERA was developed to as a treatment for the anemia that results from chronic kidney disease. Unlike single injections of rEPO, CERA interacts with erythropoietin receptors and has a longer-lasting effect.

The often brash and outspoken Ricco finished second in this year’s Giro d’Italia and has won stages six and nine at this year’s Tour de France. He finished Wednesday’s stage 2:29 behind Australian Cadel Evans in the overall standings, putting him in ninth place.

Ricco becomes the third rider to fail a doping test in this year’s race after Spanish riders Moises Duenas (Barloworld) and Manuel Beltran (Liquigas) both tested positive for rEPO.

Much was made of the fact that Ricardo Ricco worshiped Marco Pantani, and he certain climbed like the now dead Italian. Now it appears that Ricco’s legs were not entirely natural talent …

Now, while I’m not sure about ASO and AFLD’s tactic of testing a rider over and over and over again, as it comes across as a witchhunt … sometimes, when what you’re seeing seems too good to be true, it probably is. If this sport is to survive, we need to get rid of the dopers, but it has to be done in a way that protects the rights of the riders.

More news from around the net:

• BBC
• The (London) Times
• The Guardian

I don’t know what it is, but part of me really wants to see just about anyone besides Cadel Evans take the yellow jersey in Paris this year.

I’ve never been able to figure out what it is, but something about Evans rubs me the wrong way; and I just don’t want him to win.

Looking at the other riders currently in the top-10, however, I’m not sure who quite has the legs to take it away from him. Frank Schleck (currently just 1 second behind Evans) would be a great candidate, as would Christian Vandevelde.

Alejandro Valverde, who was my pre-race favourite, lost a good junk of time yesterday, but with more mountain stages, he might be able to pull back some time, especially if Evans has a bad day somewhere along the line.

Today is the rest day … time to get caught up on all the articles being written on all the various websites covering the Tour; and then the transitional stages (including a couple of pancake flat stages) until the Tour is back in the mountains in full force next Sunday.

I hope Jens Voigt can get into one of his patented long breaks.