Petacchi's season is over

The Team Milram sprinter had hoped to compete in the Paris-Tours race in October, but Milram sporting director Vittorio Algeri has now ruled him out for the rest of the season.

"He would have liked to prepare for Paris-Tours with a Belgian programme" revealed Algeri.

"But his medical condition doesn't permit this. The team management has decided that he will not race again this season. Alessandro will resume competition in the Ruta del Sol next year."

Petacchi also nearly saw his house robbed this week, before his alarm system scared away the potential thieves.

His team-mate Alessandro Cortinovis was not so lucky however, as his bags were stolen at the airport after flying into Brussels for the Circuit Franco-Belge.

As all his documentation was in the bags, there was no way the Italian would have been able to start the race, so he had no option but to fly straight back home.