Again, from procycling.com
Roberto Heras has become the latest of the pre-Tour favourites to quit the race, with the Spaniard opting to return home to sort out a knee injury rather than start Thursday’s stage in Bourg d’Oisans. Liberty Seguros team manager Manolo Saiz said that Heras was “in no condition to continue”.
“We tried to allow Roberto to recuperate for the Alps, but we could not force him because if he did it affected his knee. It’s a small disappointment, but there will be better times ahead,” said Saiz, whose team have underperformed over the past three weeks. Heras, who lost 5-38 in the time trial on Alpe d’Huez, has already flown back to Spain via Geneva.